At a press conference in Brussels following the EU Leaders' Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said, “Together with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, we condemned with the greatest firmness the kidnapping of the interim President, Prime Minister, and cabinet members. This is a coup within a coup, which is unacceptable and triggers our immediate condemnation. We are ready in the coming hours to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible for it.”

UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said the UK condemns the detention of the President, Prime Minister, and other members of the government in Mali. The UK supports a transition to constitutional rule in Mali, he added.

The UN Security Council plans a closed meeting on the Mali situation Wednesday evening, chaired by China, which holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for May.