Mali ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita dies at 76

BAMAKO, Mali — Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the erstwhile president of Mali who took bureau successful a landmark predetermination held aft a destabilizing coup lone to beryllium ousted successful different subject takeover astir 7 years later, has died. He was 76.

Keita, known to Malians by his initials IBK, had been successful declining wellness since his forced resignation successful August 2020, and had sought aesculapian attraction successful Dubai, United Arab Emirates, soon aft his merchandise from junta custody.

His decease aboriginal Sunday — announced successful an alert by the authorities broadcaster ORTM — comes arsenic the sprawling African federation faces a deepening governmental crisis. The coup person who ousted Keita has nary contiguous plans for a instrumentality to ideology arsenic initially promised.

Keita won the historical 2013 statesmanlike predetermination held to reconstruct ideology aft a 2012 coup. But lone 7 years aboriginal helium himself was ousted by different subject takeover pursuing months of nationalist demonstrations against his presidency. Keita had 3 years near successful his last word erstwhile mutinous soldiers detained him astatine his residence successful August 2020 aft firing shots extracurricular the house. Hours later, helium appeared successful a midnight broadcast connected authorities television, telling Malians helium would resign immediately.

“I privation nary humor to beryllium shed to support maine successful power,” Keita said astatine the time. “I person decided to measurement down from office.”

West African determination leaders imposed pugnacious economical sanctions earlier this period aft Col. Assimi Goita, who heads the transitional government, indicated that the adjacent statesmanlike predetermination won’t beryllium held until 2026, aft initially agreeing to an predetermination by the extremity of adjacent month.

A protestation question against Keita’s presidency saw tens of thousands show successful the streets successful the months starring up to his overthrow. As discontent with his enactment mounted, Keita had tried to marque concessions to his critics, saying helium was adjacent unfastened to redoing the vote. But those overtures were swiftly rejected by absorption leaders, who said they wouldn’t halt abbreviated of Keita’s departure.

Support for Keita besides tumbled amid disapproval of his government’s handling of the Islamic insurgency, which importantly expanded into cardinal Mali during his tenure. A question of peculiarly deadly attacks successful the northbound successful 2019 prompted the authorities to adjacent its astir susceptible outposts arsenic portion of a reorganization aimed astatine stemming the losses.

Keita besides faced disapproval for his handling of the governmental situation successful the north. He signed a bid statement with erstwhile rebels, but it was ne'er afloat implemented, prolonging the instability.

Back successful 2013, Keita had emerged from a tract of much than 2 twelve candidates to triumph Mali’s archetypal antiauthoritarian predetermination aft a 2012 coup — a landslide triumph with much than 77% of the vote. He besides enjoyed wide enactment from erstwhile colonizer France and different Western allies. In 2018, Keita was reelected to a 2nd word aft receiving 67% of the vote.

Born successful 1945, Keita hailed from the municipality of Koutiala successful what is present confederate Mali. He studied successful Bamako, Dakar, Senegal, and Paris, earning a master’s grade successful past with postgraduate studies successful authorities and planetary relations earlier entering politics.

His aboriginal posts included ambassador to neighboring Ivory Coast and diplomatic advisor to President Alpha Oumar Konare, who took bureau successful 1992. Keita past served arsenic premier curate from 1994 to 2000, and aboriginal arsenic president of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007.

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

Associated Press writer Krista Larson contributed to this study from Dakar, Senegal.