Moussa Traore, who led Mali for 22 years, dies aged 83

Former Malian President Moussa Traore delivers his New Year wishes speech in Bamako on December 31, 1985. PHOTO | AFP

Photo credit: Francois Rojon | Afp

Moussa Traore, who led Mali from 1968 until he was ousted in a coup in 1991, died at his home aged 83 in the capital Bamako on Tuesday, his family said.

As a young lieutenant in 1968, Traore was the main instigator of a coup that overthrew Modibo Keita, the country's first post-independence president.