Mali’s Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra has resigned hours after being arrested by soldiers while trying to leave the West African nation.

Renegade Malian soldiers have gone on television to declare their seizure of power in protest the government’s failure to quell a northern rebellion.

West African presidents tightened the screws on Côte d’Ivoire’s Laurent Gbagbo on Saturday, ridding him of an ally at the top of the central bank.