JUST IN: Buhari Participates In Virtual Peace Conference On Mali

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a virtual conference alongside other West African regional leaders, meet on Monday over the political crisis in Mali.

It was recalled that the President had joined others in a meeting held last Thursday in the Malian capital, Bamako, but ended with a plan to resume discussion today (Monday).

The President of Niger Republic, who is also Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Mahamadou Issoufou, had on Thursday said the sub-regional organization would do all it could to address the crisis in Mali.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by President Buhari, Host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire.

The representatives of the opposition alliance, M5 and Civil Society Organisations, also briefed the leaders on their positions over the crisis.

ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali and former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who earlier paid a peace mission to Mali last two weeks, said: “ECOWAS felt that the violent protest should not continue, so I should lead a special team to go again and engage them (protesters).”

Jonathan, who described the outcome of their mission to Mali as partially successful, expressed the hope that normalcy would soon be restored to the troubled country.