Ousted Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has died, his family says

Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who led Mali arsenic president from 2013 until subject officers ousted him successful a 2020 coup d'etat, died astatine location connected Sunday, his household said. He was 76.

The origin of decease was not announced.

Mali is successful crisis. Col. Assimi Goïta, who steered 2 subject takeovers successful the past 18 months earlier naming himself president, has pushed the predetermination that was expected to reconstruct civilian regularisation backmost to 2026 alternatively of adjacent month, arsenic planned. The federation of 20 cardinal has been chopped disconnected from overmuch of West Africa aft determination leaders moved past week to adjacent their borders to Mali.

Keïta, known by his initials IBK, won much than 77 percent of the ballot successful Mali’s 2013 predetermination to revive ideology aft his predecessor was ousted by the military. He promised to soothe nationalist tensions.

“Kati,” the subject basal wherever predecessor Amadou Toumani Touré was toppled, volition nary longer scare Bamako,” helium said. Years later, the uprising that would overthrow Keïta would statesman determination too.

Keïta enjoyed aboriginal enactment successful Malians and from erstwhile assemblage powerfulness France, among different Western allies. He was reelected to a 2nd five-year word successful 2018. But information challenges grew, arsenic did Malians’ impatience for solutions.

The authorities struggled to combat the world’s fastest-growing Islamist insurgency, which expanded importantly into cardinal Mali nether Keïta’s leadership. In August 2020, soldiers stormed Bamako and arrested the leader, raising fears astir a powerfulness vacuum portion militants loyal to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State were stepping up attacks.

Keïta’s popularity plummeted arsenic Mali’s struggle intensified. In the weeks starring up to his removal, protests raged. Tens of thousands demanded his resignation amid a coronavirus outbreak, a failing system and the increasing insurgency. Protesters accused him of prioritizing the interests of Paris implicit the Malian people.

Social media blitzes against France and ideology successful Mali, laced with pro-Moscow messages, went viral, starring researchers to infer that disinformation campaigns propelled nationalist discontent.

Hours aft helium was detained, Keïta resigned connected authorities television. “I privation nary humor to beryllium shed to support maine successful power,” helium said done a surgical mask. “I person decided to measurement down from office.”

Nine months later, Goita staged a 2nd coup, sacking the nation’s interim president and premier minister. In May 2021, helium assumed the relation of president.

Keïta studied successful Bamako, the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and Paris earlier entering politics. He served arsenic ambassador to neighboring nations including the Ivory Coast, diplomatic advisor to President Alpha Oumar Konare, premier curate and National Assembly president.

He is survived by his wife, Aminata Maiga Keïta, and their 4 children.