Cause Of Sudden Sickness Of Ousted Malian President, Keita Revealed

The cause of illness of the Former Malian president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita,  has been described as a brief stroke-like attack.

Recall, Keita, 75, was admitted to a private clinic in the capital Bamako on yesterday evening.

Prior, Keita had not been seen in public, since his August 18 ouster in a coup.

Thorough analysis revealed that the president was the victim of a transient ischaemic attack.

A transient ischaemic attack, also called a mini-stroke, happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted for a few minutes, causing stroke-like symptoms such as numbness on one side of the body, vision difficulties or confusion in understanding speech.

“It is an alert, but he is recovering well at the moment,” a doctor at the facility said.

Doctors say although, symptoms are typically short-lasting, often, they are a warning sign for future strokes, experts say.

Earlier on Wednesday, Keita’s aide and a medical source had noted that the former president was admitted to the clinic for a routine checkup and it was expected that he would return home in the coming hours.

Asked how long Keita would stay, the doctor said: “It’s true, his return home was initially envisaged for today, but right now he is under observation.”

Young military officers ousted the president who mutinied at a base near Bamako before heading into the city, where they seized Keita and other leaders.

Hours later, Keita announced on national TV that he was stepping down.

He was released on August 27 by the new junta, who returned him to his residence in Bamako, where according to his entourage he has limited access to a phone and the internet.