( CNN ) -- Mali 's prime minister abruptly resigned Tuesday on state television , a day after he was arrested by a group of soldiers loyal to a former coup leader . The development is another blow to the stability of a country once hailed as a model of democracy in Africa , but one derailed by a coup and an uprising of Islamist militants . Cheick Modibo Diarra , a former NASA engineer , who holds U.S. citizenship , was set to fly to Paris for medical care Monday , when he received notice that his bags had been removed from the plane , said a close aide , who did not want to be named . Diarra decided to stay home , where three pick-up trucks with armed soldiers pulled up at 11:00 p.m. and took him away to military headquarters in Kati , five miles north of the capital Bamako , the official said . There he met with former coup leader Capitaine Amadou Sanogo . Armed soldiers brought the former prime minister to broadcaster ORTM around 1 a.m. , said TV technician Adama Haidara . `` Mr. Diarra looked tired , worn out , '' he said . The soldiers gave him a statement to read . `` I can not say if he was forced , '' Haidara said . `` He looked unharmed . '' In his televised appearance on the military controlled broadcaster , Diarra did not offer a reason for his resignation , except for a vague statement that he solemnly delivered . `` Our country Mali is going through the most difficult period in its history , '' he said . `` During this time of crisis , the men and women of this country -- uncertain of what is going to happen to their country -- find themselves in an unfortunate situation . `` That 's why I , Cheikh Modibo Diarra , have resigned with all my government , on this day , Tuesday , 11 of December of 2012 . '' Diarra 's whereabouts are yet unknown , but his aide believes he is still in Bamako . `` He was not injured when the military arrested him last night , '' he said , `` but he has not come into his office today . '' `` The arrest was made by a small force loyal to Sanogo , '' said army spokesperson Colonel Idrissa Traore . `` The majority of the military officers in Bamako were not informed about the arrest of Mr. Diarra , and no one knows what will happen now , '' he said . Mali held its first democratic elections in 1992 after decades of military rule , and had a strong democracy for the most part . That was until March , when a group of soldiers toppled the government , which it accused of not providing adequate equipment to battle ethnic Tuareg rebels roaming the vast desert in the north . The president disappeared from sight . The Tuareg rebels took advantage of the power vacuum and seized parts of the north . They have always wanted independence , and have staged several rebellions since the 1960s . After Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was killed and Libya plunged into chaos , Tuaregs , who had fought by his side , took weapons to Mali to ramp up their conquest . A power struggle erupted between the Tuaregs and local al Qaeda-linked radicals -- including Ansar Dine -- who prevailed and seized control of two-thirds of northern Mali , an area the size of France . The international community is also worried that al Qaeda 's north African wing is expanding into Mali . U.S. officials have said that the wing , the al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb , is linked to the deadly Benghazi attack that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three others . Tuareg rebels have retreated from the well-armed militants , but have vowed to fight back and establish their own country in the north , which they call Azawad . And as the world seeks a solution , the Islamist militants are busy applying their strict interpretation of sharia law , including the banning of music , smoking , drinking and watching sports on television . They also publicly stoned a couple to death in July for reportedly having an affair . Public executions , amputations , floggings and other inhuman punishments are becoming common , the United Nations says . At least four times this year , the militants have destroyed Timbuktu 's historic tombs and shrines , claiming the relics are idolatrous . The picturesque city was once an important destination for Islamic scholars for its ancient and prominent burial sites and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . West African states and international leaders say a rapid military intervention is essential to solving the security crisis . When soldiers seized the capital , the regional and international powers put pressure on them to restore democratic rule . Sanogo conceded and transferred power to interim President Dioncounda Traore , who was appointed by the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) . Traore appointed Diarra interim prime minister . Traore fled to a Paris hotel after being beaten unconscious in a May 21 attack that occurred in the presidential palace . Prime Minister Diarra took over the country 's leadership until Traore returned . CNN 's Faith Karimi contributed to this report .
Mali 's interim prime minister was arrested then resigned on television . Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra holds U.S. citizenship . Comment: Diarra 's whereabouts are not known .