AP Photo

The young officers who seized power in Bamako on 22 March don’t have words strong enough to condemn their former army chief and president, Amadou Toumani Touré, so long known as a “soldier for democracy”: “Incompetent,” they railed. “Incapable of fighting the rebellion and the terrorist groups in the north.” Back in March 1991 Touré had taken part in a military coup against General Moussa Traoré and headed the Transitional Committee for the Welfare of the People. After a national conference and elections, he restored the civilians to power. He had been president since 2002, and was due to end his second term this 20 April with the election of his successor.