PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday condemned the military coup that took place in Mali on Tuesday, describing it as a setback for regional diplomacy.
The President, in a statement on his Twitter account @MBuhari said the coup would have grave consequences for the peace and security of West Africa.
Buhari who has been in the process of peace restoration in Mali before the coup with former president Goodluck Jonathan called on what he described as ‘Unconstitutional authority in Mali’ to act responsibly by restoring constructional 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,” he said.
President Buhari pledged Nigeria’s commitments to all efforts that will restore constitutional order in Mali, noting that a politically stable Mali is crucial and strategic to the growth of the West Africa region.
“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,” he said.
The ICIR reported on Wednesday, how the peacebuilding efforts initiated by the ECOWAS led by former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the political crisis that has engulfed the country hit the rock on Tuesday when mutinous soldiers led by a 25-year-old Colonel Malick Diaw, overthrew the Democratic elected Government.
Boubacar Keita, Mali’s President was reported to have said that he resigned from office because he did not want further shedding of blood in the country.
In its reaction the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned, suspended, and imposed sanctions on Mali on Wednesday.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended and imposed sanctions on Mali over the seizure of power by the country’s military on Tuesday.
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