Ex-president Keita dies at 76

Former Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who took office in a landmark election held after a destabilizing coup only to be ousted in another military takeover nearly seven years later, has died. He was 76. Keita, known to Malians by his initials IBK, had been in declining health since his forced resignation in August 2020, and had sought medical treatment in Dubai shortly after his release from junta custody. His death early Sunday comes as the sprawling African nation faces a deepening political crisis. The coup leader who ousted Keita has no immediate plans for a return to democracy as initially promised. Keita won the 2013 presidential election held to restore democracy after a 2012 coup. But only seven years later he was ousted by another military takeover after months of public demonstrations against him.