ECOWAS, AU, EU and UN reps in Mali worried about the socio-political situation in Mali
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) in Mali are worried about the socio-political situation in the country, following the call for the resignation of President, Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita by the Movement of June 5-Rally of the Patriotic Forces (M5-RFP).
M5-RFP held a rally on July 10, 2020, to press home their demand for President Keita's resignation. They accused him of "bad governance and management" of the lingering crisis in Mali.
In a press release, a copy of which was sent to PANA, the group regretted that public and private buildings have been targeted with violence which has resulted in loss of life, numerous injuries and the deterioration of state and private property.
The diplomats offered their deepest condolences to the grieving families and wished a speedy recovery to all the injured while strongly condemning any form of violence as a means of resolving the socio-political crisis.
They condemned the use of lethal force by the forces and asked all stakeholders to exercise restraint and always engage in dialogue, concerted action and peaceful channels for crisis resolution.
The representatives express their concern about the arrest of the leaders of the M5-RFP movement, saying the development will not create the enabling environment for dialogue advocated by the President and the Prime Minister.
The diplomats called on the Malian government to create the conditions for political dialogue, in particular, by the release of these leaders.
They said the conclusions of the recent ECOWAS ministerial mission will lay the foundation for an appropriate solution for a political agreement that will end the crisis.
The Foreign Affairs Ministers of Niger, Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire and the Chairman of the Commission for the Sub-regional Organization, were in the Malian capital from June 18 to 20 to explore how to reach a solution to the Malian crisis.
At the end of this visit, the ECOWAS emissaries recommended, among other things, the organization of by legislative elections in the constituencies where results are being contested and the establishment of a government of national unity.
On Friday, thousands of demonstrators, heeding the call to demonstration by the M5-RFP, found themselves for the third time at the Place de l'Independance in Bamako, after those of June 5 and 19, to demand the resignation of President Kéita and of his government.
Then, they went to the National Assembly and to the Mali Radio and Television Office (ORTM) which they partially ransacked, looting and burning public and private vehicles.
This civil unrest continued on Saturday and Sunday and will continue this Monday, according to officials.
Hospital sources said that 11 persons had died from the demonstrations and more than 120 injured.
Those killed by the police were buried on Sunday afternoon, organized by the influential Imam Dicko, the brain behind the movement.
At the funeral, Imam Dicko called on young Malians not to destroy state and private properties, but remain united in their demand.
"We can get what we are looking for without violence," Imam Dicko, former president of the High Islamic Council of Mali (HCIM), said the country's largest religious organization.
-0- PANA GT/BEH/KND/VAO 13July2020
