Possible coup detat underway in Mali

A regional official says Mali’s president and prime minister are now in the custody of mutinous soldiers, sparking fears the country could be plunged into further political turmoil.
Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse have been detained by mutinying soldiers on Tuesday night.

The two leaders were taken into custody in an apparent mutiny, army officer Sidi Gakou told DPA.

What happened?
Earlier on Tuesday, soldiers took up arms at the military base in Kati, a town 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Bamako, and began arresting senior military officers.

DW learned earlier on Tuesday that several high-ranking politicians and officials have been arrested, including the Minister of Finance Abdoulaye Daffe and the chief of staff of the National Guard. State broadcaster ORTM was evacuated and later went offline, reported Reuters.

What has been the reaction?
The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, tweeted that he strongly condemned the arrest of Keita and Cisse and called for their release.