Egypt is closely following with deep concern rapid political developments occurring in Mali, especially “the dangerous juncture into which the political crisis in the country has descended,” the Egyptian foreign ministry said Thursday. “Egypt stresses its condemnation of all forms of violence in the context of the ongoing crisis and calls all Malian parties to exercise restraint and adhere to peaceful methods and dialogue to settle the crisis,” the statement added. On Tuesday, rebel soldiers took President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse into custody and drove them to a military base on the outskirts of Bamako. Later Keita said he had resigned to avoid bloodshed. The Egyptian foreign ministry also stressed the importance of preserving the country's constitutional and legal frameworks and the need to rapidly restore constitutional order in Mali. The Egyptian foreign ministry affirmed Cairo's support for all political efforts aimed at resolving the crisis in Mali, topped by recent mediation efforts carried out by both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union to reach a peaceful political settlement to the crisis. On Wednesday, rebels pledged a political transition and new elections within a "reasonable time." Both the European Union and African Union, however, called Wednesday for the immediate release of Keita and Cisse. “Egypt extends its sincere condolences to the Malian people for the victims of the latest violent incidents, and calls upon sisterly and friendly countries to provide support and assistance to Mali in order to overcome the current crisis and achieve peace and stability in the country,” the foreign ministry statement added.
