A man accused of trying to kill Mali’s military strongman Assimi Goita, the figure behind two coups in less than a year, has died in custody.

The suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, was taken into custody following the assassination attempt at Bamako’s Grand Mosque on Tuesday.

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“During investigations… his health deteriorated” and he was then hospitalised but “unfortunately, he has died,” the government said in a statement on Sunday.

A man armed with a knife lunged at Goita after Eid prayers on Tuesday, according to an AFP news agency reporter at the scene.

Goita was whisked away by his security officials and later appeared on state TV to say he was doing “very well”.

“That’s part of being a leader, there are always malcontents,” he said. “There are people who at any time may want to try things to cause instability.”

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His attacker, a young-looking man dressed in jeans and a white shirt, was apprehended at the scene and taken away by the Malian intelligence services.

The suspect was never presented to judicial authorities, a source requesting anonymity told AFP on Sunday.

His identity was not revealed, but commissioner Sadio Tomoda said late Tuesday that he was a teacher, without elaborating.

Prosecutors had opened an inquiry into the incident.

On Sunday, the government said the suspect’s death was not an obstacle to continuing the investigation, “especially since preliminary evidence and intelligence gathered indicate that he was not an isolated element”

You mean murdered.

This is what buhari wants to turn Nigeria into

A place where people are frustrated and become desperate to the point where they try to take out the oppressor by themselves

A very convenient but suspicious death.

Totilopussylick:
You mean murdered.

Keyword: murdered

Seems like a poorly acted script. Someone with a real intent to harm would have finished off the president even before his aides would do anything. Dude just made a move and paused waiting to be tackled down by the president's security.
Anyway, I guess the people will become sympathetic to the president now.