Buhari Meets With Jonathan Over Mali Crisis

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, played host to former President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential villa, Abuja, where he called on the actors in the political crisis in Mali to come together for the peace and unity of the country.

Recall that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had on July 24, 2020, appointed Jonathan as Special Envoy to mediate in Mali’s crisis.

The internal crisis between the country’s stakeholders later degenerated to a military coup in August 2020 thereby removing the country’s Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse, and the President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, from office.

But Jonathan’s envoy subsequently ordered the soldiers to constitute an interim government while working towards transiting power to a civilian rule within twelve months.

THE WHISTLER reported that the military led by Colonel Assimi Goita recaptured power on Tuesday, forced interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane to resign after detaining but later releasing the duo.

According to President Buhari, “a situation where most parts of the country are in the hands of insurgents calls for a consensus and restoration of peace, not a further escalation of the crisis.”

On his part, Jonathan said he would also meet with ECOWAS leaders under the Chairmanship of President Nana Akufo-Addo of the Republic of Ghana, to discuss on the latest development.