Russia has called for a peaceful solution “at the negotiating table” to the situation in Mali where a military junta remains in charge after deposing President Ibrahim Keita from office earlier this week.
Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were arrested after the military took power on Tuesday following weeks of protests in the West African country.
Various countries and bodies have denounced Keita’s ouster, including the UN, AU and ECOWAS.
In a press briefing on Friday in Moscow, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said her country “is seriously concerned about the developments in Bamako. We urge all Malian public and political forces to settle the situation peacefully at the negotiating table.”
“The situation in Bamako remains tense: some government and residential buildings are being robbed and the crime rate has spiked,” she added.
Zakharova announced a travel advisory by the Foreign Ministry against Mali “until the situation comes back to normal and reliable security guarantees are provided.”
Keita was last seen on Tuesday when he made a televised resignation from his position as well as the immediate dissolution of his government and the National Assembly.
Junta spokesman Ismaël Wagué however said the ex-president was only being detained for his own protection.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Wagué said the president’s resignation had not been forced.
“There was no coup d’état because the constitutional order is still in force,” he said. “The president of the republic resigned on his own after making an analysis of the country’s situation.”
