Buhari to ECOWAS leaders: We must return sanity to Mali

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on African leaders to work towards ensuring a “return to sanity” in Mali.

Mali is currently experiencing political crisis that escalated after a court nullified the results of 31 seats in the country’s April parliamentary elections; the court also awarded victory to other contenders for the position.

A resistance group, M5, claimed the court’s decision was influenced by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita  and demanded his resignation.

In July, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was appointed by ECOWAS as envoy to Mali to mediate on the crisis.

Shortly afterwards, an ECOWAS delegation, including Buhari, visited Mali for discussions on restoring peace in the country, but the talks did not yield results.

A coup, on Tuesday, led to the resignation of Keita.

Speaking at a virtual extraordinary summit of ECOWAS heads of state and government on Thursday, Buhari said proactive steps must be taken to resolve the crisis.

ECOWAS had announced sanctions against Mali and directed the closure of the borders of member states with Mali, until democratic government is restored.

At the summit, Buhari said the events which led to the coup in Mali will have grave consequences on the peace and security of West Africa.

Noting that a politically stable Mali is paramount and crucial to the stability of the sub-region, Buhari enjoined ECOWAS, the African Union, United Nations and other stakeholders to work together to bring peace to the country.

“The events in Mali are great setbacks for regional diplomacy, with grave consequences for the peace and security of West Africa. It is time for the unconstitutional ‘authority’ in Mali to act responsibly and ensure restoration of constitutional order, peace and stability,” Buhari said.

“Nigeria strongly supports the efforts of ECOWAS Chairman, President Mahamadou Issoufou, for wider regional and continental consultations with ECOWAS, the AU and the UN, and the adoption of strong measures to bring speedy resolution to the situation.

“A politically stable Mali is paramount and crucial to the stability of the sub-region. We must all join efforts, ECOWAS, the AU, the UN and other stakeholders, and work together until sanity returns to Mali with the restoration of Civil Administration.”

Before his resignation, soldiers had arrested Keita, alongside Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, in Bamako, the country’s capital.