JUST IN: Mali: ECOWAS Leaders Hold Emergency Summit, Thursday

Following the unfolding events in Mali, which resulted in a military coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says its Heads of State would hold an extraordinary summit on Thursday.

ECOWAS Directorate of Communication, in a statement on Wednesday, added that the scheduled virtual meeting was fixed to discuss the the socio-political situation in Mali.

“The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-political situation in Mali on Thursday, August 20, 2020.

“Holding virtually through videoconference, the Summit was convened following the Military Coup d’Etat in the Republic of Mali”, it stated.

Furthermore, it regretted that its mediation efforts in the country had not yielded the needed results for peaceful coexistence in Mali.

Hence, it reiterated its earlier position following the mutiny by the soldiers, condemning it in its entirety.

“ECOWAS has strongly condemned the undemocratic change of government as 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 held several mediation and peace missions to Mali,” it stated.

The mutinying soldiers had toppled the country’s elected government on Tuesday.

The soldiers also said that they would let civil groups organise fresh elections.