![Transitional Mali President Bah Ndaw was detained by military officers on May 24, 2021. [Ian Langsdon, AFP]](https://i1.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/mali.jpg)
President Bah Ndaw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and defence minister Souleymane Doucoure were all taken to a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako, the sources said.
The arrests bring further uncertainty to the West African country after a military coup in August overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Ndaw and Ouane had been tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition back to civilian rule after the takeover, but many inside government and the opposition worried about the military’s hold over key positions.
The arrests occurred after the announcement of a change in government in which two members of a military junta that seized power in August were replaced.
![South Sudan map featuring Upper Nile state in red [Photo by Wikipedia]](https://i1.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/1200px-Upper_Nile_Map.svg_.png)
![In this Aug. 3 photo, a safe that was shot open is seen in an office of Juba's Terrain compound after it was looted July 11. South Sudanese soldiers killed a local journalist and raped foreign aid workers in a five-hour attack that day [Photo via WESA]](https://i1.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/490392182-120x86.jpg)
