The Malian Justice Ministry has said that the military strongman who led last year’s military coup in Mali has been arrested and charged with murder and kidnapping.

Officials say armed troops went to General Amadou Sanogo’s home to take him before a judge, and he was remanded in prison custody pending further investigations.

Amadou Sanogo was a middle-ranking officer when he led the coup but was promoted from Captain to General when he handed over the country to the interim government in the presence of French troops.

His spokesman Lt. Mohamed Boua Coulibaly confirmed that the general had been taken by force from his residence earlier in the day on Wednesday by a unit of soldiers sent by the ministry of defense.

Local reporters say General Sanogo has been repeatedly called in for questioning by a court over the deaths of six soldiers during an army protest in September and some disappearance of some officers during his coup but failed to appear.

The judge who had issued the summons reportedly received death threats, and was given a security detail for his protection.

General Sanogo toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure in March 2012, accusing him of not doing enough to combat a Tuareg-led rebellion in the north.

Human Rights watch said soldiers that did not bow to General Sanogo during the coup were picked up, beaten with sticks, gun butts, kicked in the head, ribs and genitals, stabbed in their extremities and some never seen again.

Corinne Dufka, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch said this is a step in right direction for the country in ensuring equality before the law and justice for all citizens.

“The Malian judge and judiciary have shown that no one, not even a four-star general, is above the law, this is a very encouraging step for the victims of the alleged crimes committed by those loyal to Sanogo and for Mali’s struggle to address the culture of impunity,” Mr. Dufka said.

But according to political analysts in West Africa, his coup provided a good foundation for Islamists militants who seized the whole of the north of the country, destroying the ancient town of Timbuktu completely.

The coup also caused a rift between pro-junta soldiers, known as green berets, and those loyal to the former president Amadou Toumani, known as red berets.

This development many say indicates that the government of Mali’s newly elected president is not afraid to stand up to the military or any individual in the country.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

[adrotate group=”15″]