By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja, Aug. 19, 2020
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) will hold an Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in Mali on Thursday.
The Directorate of Communications of the ECOWAS Commission disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
This is as the Nigerian government called for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order in Mali following the coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama made the call on behalf of the Nigerian government via his verified twitter handle @GeoffreyOnyeama on Wednesday.
The Extraordinary Summit, which would hold virtually through video conference, was convened following the military coup d’etat that happened in the Republic of Mali on Tuesday.
ECOWAS has strongly condemned the undemocratic change of government as it is against the ECOWAS protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has been mediating in the socio-political crises and has sent several mediation and peace missions to Mali.
Onyeama, in his tweet, said Nigeria also welcomed the urgent activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
“The Nigerian government unequivocally condemns the coup d’état that took place in Mali on Tuesday and demands the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.
‘We welcome the urgent activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force,” Onyeama said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were arrested by the military after a mutiny on Tuesday.
The incident followed months of street protests in the volatile West African state, which was also battling Islamic insurgency.
The coup comes after several weeks of political tensions and repeated anti-government protests during which talks between the government and the opposition, led by popular cleric, Mahmoud Dicko, a former ally of Keita, failed.