Mali unrest forces ECOWAS Summit in Ghana
The political crises in Mali has compelled ECOWAS leaders to hold a meeting in Accra on Sunday, May 30.
The Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government is expected to occur at the Peduase Lodge and presided by ECOWAS Chair President Akufo-Addo.
The objective of the Summit is to enable the Authority to discuss the recent military takeover of Mali for the second time.
The Malian military, led by 37-year-old Col Assimi Goïta on August 18, 2020, tossed out Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar out of office with the tacit endorsement of an angry civilian population.
Before then, Col Goïta had been commander of a special forces battalion based in Mali’s Center region.
In September 2020, President Akufo-Addo and his equals in ECOWAS met the military leaders to charter a path for the country’s return to democracy.
Decisions at the meeting included a demand on the Malian authorities to ensure that the Transition Government was Civilian-led and should last for a period of eighteen (18) months, with effect from September 15, 2020.
An interim transition team was installed led by a civilian.
However, the military acted again by arresting and detaining the President and Prime Minister of the transition government.
READ: Mali Coup: ECOWAS Communique Details 6 Points For Civilian Handover
“As you are all aware, the past few days have witnessed some worrying developments in Mali. The arrest and detention of the President and Prime Minister of the Transition Government by the military has necessitated a re-evaluation of the strategies adopted by ECOWAS to bring normalcy to the country.
“At the behest of the President of the Republic, an ECOWAS Mediation team, led by H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator for Mali, embarked on a fact-finding mission to Mali from 25th to 26th May, 2021, to assess the situation and explore opportunities for the resolution of the crisis. H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will, therefore, report to the Summit on the outcome of the mission,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told journalists in Accra ahead of the Summit.
“It is hoped that all the political actors in Mali will support the outcome of the Extraordinary Summit to be held tomorrow in order to restore constitutional order in our sister country as soon as practicable. The outcome of the Summit will be critical to sustaining the momentum for the return of democracy and stability in Mali,” the Minister said.
So far, 10 Heads of State and Government have confirmed their participation.
Countries yet to confirm participation are Guinea and Cabo Verde.
The former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS Special Mediator for Mali, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, will participate in the Summit.
“A communique will be issued at the end of the Summit,” she added.
What is the latest in Mali
Mali’s constitutional court has named the leader of the country’s military coup, Colonel Assimi Goïta, as its transitional president.
Col Goïta had already declared himself interim president on Wednesday, two days after seizing power in Mali’s second coup in nine months.
The court said Friday’s decision was due to the “vacancy in the presidency”.
On Monday, the two men tasked with steering the country back to civilian rule, interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, were detained by soldiers.
Col Goïta said that both men had failed in their duties and were seeking to sabotage the country’s transition.
They were released on Thursday after resigning.