UN, Europe Union and African states call for calm in Mali

The United Nations, European Union, African Union and the West African regional bloc Ecowas have called for calm in Mali after at least 11 civilians were killed in a security crackdown on anti-government protests.

The protests in the capital, Bamako, and other cities turned violent at the weekend, leaving 11 people dead and 124 injured

Per Second News learnt that the demonstrations are being driven by a disparate group of religious, political and civil society leaders who have come together under the umbrella of the June 5 Movement, or 5M. They have called for “civil disobedience”, including non-payment of fines and blocking entry to state buildings.

The organisations “condemn the use of lethal force in the context of maintaining public order and invite all stakeholders to exercise restraint”, their representatives in Mali said in a joint statement released late on Sunday.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 75, is facing a mounting wave of protests triggered by the constitution court’s decision to overturn the results of about 30 seats in the long-delayed parliamentary poll held in March and April, benefiting several members of the president’s party.

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