Mali's toppled president flown to UAE for medical treatment

Mali's former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was overthrown by the military last month, has flown to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for medical treatment, an official said on Sunday.

Keita departed on Saturday evening, according to Ali Diallo, a government employee. This was also confirmed by the secretary general of Keita's party RPM, Baber Gano.

Keita, 75, was taken to hospital in Bamako a few days ago with symptoms suggesting he had had a stroke, according to hospital sources.

Mali recently saw political turmoil after Keita was arrested by insurgent military leaders and forced to resign last month.

The military announced the formation of a transitional committee, which would hold elections soon.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last week called upon the military to immediately transfer power to a civilian transition government.

Keita had been in power since 2013, after the north of the country fell into the hands of Islamist extremists and other rebel groups following another military coup the previous year.

Several terrorist organizations remain active in Mali today, some of which have sworn allegiance to Islamic State or al-Qaeda.

Two European Union missions and one United Nations mission are active in the country.