Wetangula takes to Facebook to tell of his Mali coup nightmare

By Cyrus Ombati and Lucianne Limo

"A coup d’Ètat has taken place in Mali as I was about to leave for the airport. I may not be able to leave. Airspace closed. Pray for me." And with those words, Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula broke the news to his friends and relatives from Bamako city, through his Facebook page, following the overthrow of the Government of Mali.

Mr Wetangula and his delegation were caught up in crossfire between disgruntled soldiers and loyalists and appealed for prayer from Kenyans, saying the situation was getting out of control. Wetangula, who had gone to Mali to attend a ministerial conference on peace and security in Africa, found himself marooned after delaying for a day, waiting to board a Kenya Airways flight that lands in Bamako three times a week.

Kenya Airways said in a statement it had diverted its flight KQ 513 – a Boeing 737-700 – from Dakar, Senegal, to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, which was en route to Bamako.

Mali soldiers outside the offices of State radio and television broadcaster after announcing a coup d’etat, in the capital Bamako, Thursday. [PHOTO: REUTERS]

"The aircraft, which was en route to Bamako, was diverted 30 minutes from the capital city of Mali," said a statement from KQ.

Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Titus Naikuni, said the aircraft had 60 passengers on board – 53 in Economy and seven in Business Class and they are all safe.

Dr Naikuni added that all Kenya Airways staff in Bamako is safe, and that the airline will continue to monitor the situation and provide any update as, and when available.

Naikuni said he talked to Wetangula on Wednesday when he confirmed he was safe, together with his Personal Assistant, Boniface Munzola, Gilbert Ng’eno from Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa, and Anthony Safari from Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi.

Naikuni said Kenya Airways would do its best to try and get the passengers who are in Mali out of the situation.

Xinhua news agency reported that statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged all Kenyans in Mali to get in touch with the Kenya Airways senior official in Bamako who will arrange for their possible evacuation. "The Government is working with Kenya Airways for possible evacuation and wishes to inform all Kenyans in Mali to get in touch with the Kenya Airways Area manager Sally Osuke in Bamako Mali on [phone]," the statement released on Thursday said.

Following Wetangula’s Facebook posts, friends and relatives jammed his Facebook page with messages of comfort and encouragement.

About three hours later the Foreign Affairs minister who is holed up with the Kenyan delegation that he was leading to the conference at a Bamako hotel, near the State broadcasting radio and TV1 station, said the situation was deteriorating.

"Situation worsening. Curfew imposed. Airport closed. Heavy gunfire can be heard repeatedly. Received call from AU Chairman Jean Ping," added Wetangula. The minister thanked friends and compatriots saying he and his delegation were touched and overwhelmed by the concern, support, and prayers.

The rebels, calling themselves National Committee for Reestablishment of Democracy and Restoration of the State announced the closure of all borders and airspace after declaring the ouster of President Aamadou Toumani Toure, suspended the Constitution, and slapped a curfew.

"The situation remains unchanged but we feel encouraged and stronger! God Bless you all," Wetangula added another three hours later.

Dangerous situations

Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi yesterday said they are not sure when the rescue efforts would take place, considering the airspace had been closed.

"The Government is in touch with the Kenyan delegation and is keenly observing the unfolding scenario and waiting for more information on the state of security," said Mwangi.

On Wednesday the mutineers had taken over the State radio and TV broadcaster in Bamako. They took it off air. After several hours of footage of traditional Malian music and dancing, a group of soldiers appeared on screen early on Thursday morning, with a caption identifying them as the coup makers.

A spokesperson for the rebels, identified on screen as Lt Amadou Konare, said they had ended the "incompetent regime" of President Toure. BBC said Lt Konare condemned the "inability" of President Toure’s government to "fight terrorism", and said the soldiers would look to hand over to a democratically elected government.

The mutineers say the government is not giving them enough arms to battle a rebellion by ethnic Tuaregs.

There was heavy gunfire in Bamako throughout Wednesday, and armoured vehicles had moved in to protect the presidential palace.

Gunshots reportedly continued to ring out overnight, according to Wetangula, who added he could hear them. It was unclear whether President Toure was inside the palace at the time of the incident.

Wetangula has in the recent past been exposed to dangerous situations while in the line of duty.

Last week a suicide bomb killed three people in Mogadishu, just as Wetangula was visiting the Somali capital. The suicide bomber had targeted the presidential palace where several guards were also injured.

Wetangula and a high powered delegation from Kenya were visiting the country after the Kenyan military was recently re-hatted into the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia to fight the Al Shabaab following a UN Security Council resolution in February that increased the force’s strength to 17,731.

He was reported to be far away from the blast, and not to have been caught in the unfortunate incident.

Yesterday the Foreign Affairs PS said the Government is also trying to establish contact with the interim authority, which is reported to have taken charge to have the stranded Kenyans evacuated.

"The minister is safe and we have established contacts with a number of friendly governments with embassies in Mali to work out all options together to lead to their safe evacuation," added Mwangi.

The PS also assured the public that the few Kenyans in Bamako are safe and are on standby to be brought home. "We have also established that a few Kenyan nationals are in Mali and we have asked Kenya Airways to ensure that as soon as the airspace is opened up, they pick the minister and other Kenyans, he added.