Mali: Military junta announce that borders will reopen from August 21 /update 4

Event

The military junta, the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), has announced that all ports of entry to Mali will reopen from Friday, August 21. A curfew, however, remains in place from 21:00 to 05:00 (local time) until further notice. The borders had been closed following a military coup that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday, August 18.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have, however, instructed its member states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo) to keep their borders with Mali closed due to Tuesday's coup. 

Context

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation, as well as the dissolution of the National Assembly, around midnight on Tuesday, August 18, during a televised appearance. The announcement came following the detainment of the President and other government officials on Tuesday afternoon during a military coup. The new military junta, the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), has stated that there will be a civilian political transition towards a general election.

Advice

Those in Mali are advised to avoid unnecessary movement in the immediate term and should shelter in place where possible. Monitor developments and heed any directives issued by local authorities.