During a breakthrough election held after a coup nearly seven years ago, former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita came to power only to be ousted by another coup just seven years later. He died at age 76.
Since he was forced to resign by the military junta in August 2020, Keita, who is known as IBK to Malians, suffered deteriorating health. He sought medical treatment in Dubai shortly after being released from junta custody.
Despite initial promises to return to democracy, he died early on Sunday, announced by the state broadcaster ORTM amid a deepening political crisis. Keita’s ouster had no immediate plans to return to democracy.
Seven years after winning the historic 2013 presidential election that restored democracy following a coup in 2012, Keita was himself overthrown by an attempted coup after months of public demonstrations against his rule. He announced just before midnight on nightly television that he was resigning immediately so that no blood would be shed after soldiers surrounded his home and fired shots into the air in August 2020.
The leaders of the West African region imposed sanctions earlier this month after the transitional government’s leader, Col. Assimi Goita, suggested the next presidential election will not be held until 2026. In the beginning, it was agreed that elections would take place by the end of the next month.
