Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING Mali strongman Assimi Goita says elections will take place in 2022

#UPDATE Political turmoil in #Mali deepened on Tuesday as the country's interim vice president #AssimiGoita pushed out transitional leaders tasked with steering the return to civilian rule after a coup last August, as he promised elections in 2022 u.afp.com/UnVJ

#BREAKING France condemns Mali 'coup', demands president, PM freed: foreign minister

#UPDATE France's foreign minister on Tuesday condemned "with the greatest firmness" the ousting of transitional leaders in #Mali who had been tasked with steering the return to civilian rule after a coup last August

#BREAKING French President Macron condemns as "unacceptable coup d'etat" the detention of Mali's transitional president and PM, warns EU could impose sanctions

#BREAKING France calls for urgent UN Security Council meeting on Mali after ousting of transitional leaders: foreign minister

#BREAKING Britain calls for 'immediate, safe and unconditional' release of Mali president, PM: minister

#BREAKING Germany says Mali president, PM should "be released immediately"

#UPDATE On Monday, the UN, African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the EU and US issued a rare joint statement, attacking the detention and demanding the pair be released.

That demand was echoed by Britain and Germany u.afp.com/UnCL