Mali’s Detained Opposition Leaders Freed Amid Unrest

The authorities in Mali have released some 20 protest leaders who were detained for seeking the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, their lawyers have said.

The activists were arrested last week, after three days of violent clashes in the capital, Bamako, between demonstrators and the security forces that left at least 11 people dead.

The United Nations and the African Union were among several organisations who called for the protest leaders to be released.

There have been reports of renewed gunfire on Monday.

President Keïta is under mounting pressure to step aside over disputed elections in Mali and his failure to subdue militia violence.

The 75-year-old has been in power since 2013.