In the spotlight: IBK at the hospital

Audio 04:05

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta announcing his resignation on national television held by the puschists.

AFP / ORTM

By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

9 min

Publicity

The information made the headlines of the Malian press this morning.

“ 

Former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is hospitalized in a private clinic in Bamako

, reports the daily

Malikilé, and his state of health is stable, but he could be evacuated abroad to receive more appropriate medical treatment.

IBK was said to have suffered a stroke,

the newspaper understands,

without serious consequences and is in stable and conscious condition.

The former Malian president had appeared weak lately,

adds

Malikilé, especially when he declared his resignation on August 18, and concerns only grew during his detention in the Kati barracks 15 km from Bamako.

[…] The health of the former president was very fragile before his fall, therefore.

The multiple almost clandestine trips he made on board Air IBK One were aimed at visits and other medical checks.

This was also an open secret,

points out the newspaper,

which poses the endless question of the omerta which surrounds the health of our governors.

 "

AVC or AIT?

For its part,

L'Indépendant

, another Malian daily, specifies that IBK “ 

has been hospitalized since Tuesday.

According to some sources, he went to the hospital for a routine check-up.

Other sources indicate that he was rather the victim of a transient ischemic attack (less serious than a stroke).

His last check, scheduled for August 20 abroad, could not take place due to the overthrow of his regime on August 18.

 "

On September 22

, another Bamako publication, also speaks of a transient ischemic attack: “ 

from medical sources, there is more fear than harm,

says the newspaper.

President IBK held on and is said to have already returned home to Sébénikoro.

 "

Swift sweep…

On the political level, while awaiting the national consultations which are to start this Saturday, September 5, the junta apparently is cleaning up.

According to several Malian news sites, several generals have been dismissed.

And General Dembélé, portrayed by some as the real architect of the coup, would be in the hot seat.

It would have become " 

cumbersome

 " for Colonel Goïta, the head of the junta, and his colleagues.

At least that is what

Le 22 Septembre

asserts

, among others.

At the same time, the newspaper further specifies, the junta made 14 appointments to strategic positions, military or civilian.

Among the promoted, an uncle of Colonel Goïta, Colonel Kassoum Goïta, now in charge of State Security.

For

Ledjely

in Guinea, “ 

these appointments somewhat contradict the military's promises to let the Malian forces decide the organization and content of the transition.

In fact,

points out the Guinean site,

while they repeat to the Malians as well as to the international community that it will be up to the people to decide in full sovereignty, the soldiers are striving to consolidate their positions as key players in the transition. .

Everything that has been done for a few days refers to a maneuver intended to put Malian politicians and civil society in front of a fait accompli.

 "

What transition?

In any case,

Info-Matin points out

in Bamako, “ 

two weeks after the coup, Mali is still looking for a way.

If the Military Committee for the Salvation of the People has initiated consultations with political actors such as those of civil society, nothing concrete has emerged for the moment: no government, no president of the transition, even if each of the actors whether from the political class, civil society or even the CNSP seems to have his idea. 

"

What is certain, continues

Info-Matin

, is that appetites are sharpening: the appetites " 

of the soldiers who completed the work of the opponents of President IBK, those of the protesters grouped within the M5-RFP and those of the now ex-collaborators of the fallen regime.

 "

So, believes

Le Pays

in Ouagadougou, time is running out: “ 

There's no point in playing the clock.

Because, the more the junta drags its feet in the start of the transition, the more doubt will settle in people's minds.

Both Malians and the international community.

And that may further complicate the situation.

 "

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