Par Mouhamet NDIONGUE
Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïyour is dead. The former head of state died at the age of 76 in his home in Bamako. Lost in its wanderings on the country’s security policy, corruption and the tampering with elections, the presidency of IBK has not been a long calm river. IBK ruled Mali from 2013 before being ousted in a coup in August 2020.
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta died at his home in Bamako at the age of 76, AFP news agency reported, citing the family. She therefore gave no information on the cause of death. Mali’s transitional government said Keïta died from a ” long illness “. It was also said that information about the ex-president’s funeral would be announced at a later date. Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop expressed sadness at Keita’s death. ” I bow to his memory with great sadness “, did he declare. Senegalese President Macky Sall and former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou also expressed their condolences. The former French head of state, François Hollande, hailed ” an African proud of his continent, who worked well with his colleagues from West Africa ».
The coup d’etat perpetrated against former President Ibrahima Boubacar Keita is also the starting point of what is considered so far beyond the quarrels between Bamako and ECOWAS, but a real geopolitical crisis between different powers. foreigners with divergent interests in the sub-region.
A sensational entrance
Keïta was Prime Minister of Mali between 1994 and 2000 under the first democratically elected president Alpha Oumar Konaré (1992-2002). ” Alpha Oumar Konaré was the instigator of IBK’s career. He was his companion and gave him the chance to touch the state at the highest peak as political secretary. He almost put his foot in the stirrup and IBK never recovered from his separation with the latter “, explains Tiambel Guimbayara, journalist and publication director of The Voice of Mali.
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In 2013, IBK won the historic presidential election called to restore democracy after a 2012 coup. He ruled the country until 2020. In another coup in 2020, he was ousted after months of protests against his presidency, and overthrown by the military, which seized power. Arrested by soldiers at his home in August 2020, hours later in a televised speech he said he would resign immediately. ” I wish no blood was shed to keep me in business “, he had declared on public television in a final night speech announcing his forced resignation.
His health has steadily deteriorated since he was forced to resign. Shortly after being released from police custody by the military, he sought treatment in the United Arab Emirates.
lost in sthe errors
During his term, President Keïta was criticized because, among other things, he had been unable to contain the terrorist attacks that had been ongoing since 2012, particularly in the north of the country. He also delayed political reforms; a sluggish economy and allegations of corruption had driven tens of thousands into the streets.
We will remember the image of his son who during a ceremony threw banknotes on the ground as a gift to his fans.
On June 5, the first major demonstration against Malian President IBK took place in Bamako. This first demonstration, which brought together a broad alliance of political groups and civil society, gathered around 20,000 Malians on the Place de l’Indépendance in the center of Bamako.
The main trigger for the protests was the April 2020 parliamentary elections, the results of which were seen as “highly rigged”. However, it was, in a way, only the famous ” drop that broke the camel’s back “, because dissatisfaction with the government of President IBK had stopped growing for years, in part, the constant deterioration of the security situation in the country.
IBK’s legacy
What legacy did President IBK leave to the Malian people? In view of the current events in the country, it must be said that Keïta’s legacy is heavy for Mali.
After being deposed in May 2021, the military junta staged another coup. Colonel Assimi Goita, who had already overthrown Keïta, deposed the civilian leader of an interim government and proclaimed himself interim president. Both coups were strongly criticized internationally. After the August 2020 coup, the community of West African states, ECOWAS, notably closed borders with Mali and cut virtually all trade relations. West African countries imposed tough economic sanctions earlier this month after Goïta said the next presidential election would not take place before 2026. He had initially agreed to an election by the end next month. The political situation in Mali has been characterized by strong instability since 2012.
For now, the funeral of President IBK has not been determined given the tension in the country.