President Muhammadu Buhari has urged mutinying soldiers in Mali to act responsibly by restoring constitutional order, peace and stability in the country.
On August 18, rebel forces took over the country, arresting President Ibrahim Keita of Mali and his Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse.
Keita the following day announcing his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly, saying he had little choice but to stand down to avoid bloodshed.
Read Also: Mali’s President, Ibrahim Keita Resigns After Arrest By Mutinying Soldiers
Reacting to the coup in a Twitter post on Thursday, President Buhari wrote;
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.
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.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 20, 2020
He added that the country 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.
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.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 20, 2020
President Buhari expressed that a politically stable Mali is paramount and crucial to the stability of the sub-region.
He called on ECOWAS, the AU, the UN and other stakeholders to work together to return peace to Mali with the restoration of Civil Administration.
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.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 20, 2020
Read Also: Mali: Buhari Attends Virtual ECOWAS Session
Meanwhile, President Buhari and other West African President to discuss the military coup in Mali that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
The extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS is being held virtually.
