Ex-Nigerian president Jonathan leads ECOWAS mediation team to Mali
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed a mediation team to Mali in search of a peaceful solution to the political crisis there following the ouster of president Ibrahim Keita earlier this week.
The team led by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan arrived in the capital, Bamako, on Saturday ahead of crucial talks with the country’s stakeholders.
“We arrived in Bamako this afternoon to continue with the ECOWAS mediation and peace talks towards resolving Mali’s political crisis and restoring normalcy in this beautiful West African country. We’Il continue to engage Malian stakeholders until lasting peace is found,” said Jonathan.
Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were arrested alongside other government officials after the military took power on Tuesday following weeks of protests in the West African country.
ECOWAS led other countries and organizations in condemning the ouster, but thousands of Malians took to the streets on Friday to show their support for it.
Keita was last seen on Tuesday when he made a televised resignation from his position as well as the immediate dissolution of his government and the National Assembly.
A United Nations team said on Friday it had gained access to the ex-president but he remains in detention.
Junta spokesman Ismaël Wagué however said the ex-president was only being detained for his own protection.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Wagué said the president’s resignation had not been forced.
“There was no coup d’état because the constitutional order is still in force,” he said. “The president of the republic resigned on his own after making an analysis of the country’s situation.”
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