Mali raises fears of another coup

Malian soldiers arrested the West African country's transitional president and prime minister on Monday. In a joint statement, the African Union and the United Nations called on the mutinous officers to release President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, who they took to the Kati military camp near the capital of Bamako.

What triggered the move? The detention came about an hour after the government announced a new Cabinet that excluded two members of the junta that took power in August. Officials did not give any reason, but it likely signals growing divisions within the transitional government. After the military overthrew former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita nine months ago, it faced international pressure to hand power over to a civilian transitional government. A month later, the two detained leaders assumed office. The country is scheduled to hold new democratic elections next February.

Dig deeper: Read my World Tour report on Mali's coup.