Buhari heads to Gambia for ECOWAS mission

President Muhammadu Buhari is to visit Banjul, capital of The Gambia, on January 13 to mediate in the political crisis in the country.

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.

In Banjul, Buhari is scheduled to meet with President Yahya Jammeh and President-elect Adama Barrow.

The meeting is in continuation of dialogue on the political situation in the West African country.

Adesina said Buhari would be joined by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government, and President Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone.

John Mahama, the immediate past president of Ghana, who is the co-meditator of The Gambian mission, will also join the ECOWAS leaders.

The statement said later on January 13, the president will travel to Bamako, Mali to participate in the 27th Africa–France Summit.

The summit for partnership, peace and emergence, convened by French President Francois Hollande, is aimed at strengthening cooperation between France and African countries in areas of peace and security, economic partnership and development.

He said Buhari would reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to global efforts on the war against terror and underline the need for improved collaboration to address the menace of terrorism in the region.

Adesina said Buhari would also use the opportunity of the summit to underscore the efforts his administration was making to improve Nigeria’s business environment to attract more foreign direct investment.

“The president will be accompanied by Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, the ministers of foreign affairs, interior and defence,” Adesina said.