Mali’s former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who led the West African country from 2013 until he was ousted in a coup in 2020, has died at the age of 76 in Bamako.
He suffered a minor stroke a month ago and went for treatment in the United Arabs Emirates but the cause of his death is still unknown.
He died in his home Bamako, this Sunday.
IBK, as known by many and his family members was involved in politics for more than three decades where he served as a prime minister from 1994 to 2000 before showing interest in the presidential seat which he later won.
President Keita led Mali for seven years from 2013 to 2020, when he was ousted in a coup after anti-government protests over his handling of jihadist unrest and failing to turn around the economy of the country.
Former President Keita was forced out of office on August 18, 2020, by young military officers who staged a coup near Bamako.
Under pressure from ECOWAS, the Junta group that emerged from the rebellion, agreed and released Keita on 27th August and he was escorted under high surveillance to his resident home in Bamako.
Assimi Goita is currently the interim president of Mali.
By Purity Nyang’ara
Comment here