Strongmen should wake up to reality of people’s power

Mali’s former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The removal of Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday raises fresh questions on the role of the military in Africa today. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) is disturbed. The African Union (AU) has suspended Mali. 

Ecowas leaders have asked Mali’s soldiers to reinstate Keita and return to the barracks. The UN Security Council agrees. At the time of this writing, the soldiers had said they would shortly name a transitional government, of the military and civilians. They expect that this government will manage a full return to civilian rule, through a democratic election.