Ghana hosts ECOWAS summit on unfolding political events in Mali

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an extraordinary summit in Accra  on Sunday to address the unfolding events in Mali where the interim president and prime minister were sacked by the military last week.

The summit will be held in Ghana, which is the current chairperson of the sub-regional group, Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said on Saturday.

She said the meeting will enable heads of state, led by the  current chairman, Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to address the political tensions arising from last week;s developments.

“The purpose of the Summit is to enable the authority to deliberate and take consequential decisions on the evolving political and security situation in the Republic of Mali,” she said.

Ms Botchwey said President Akufo-Addo called the meeting following due consultations with his peers.

Interim President Bah N'daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane  were dismissed by the interim vice president of the transition, Col. Assimi Goita, who declared himself interim president after N'daw and Ouane "resigned".

On Friday, the Constitutional Court installed him president of the transition and head of state.

Col. Goita staged a coup in August last year that ousted President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta. Under pressure from ECOWAS, a civilian government was installed, led by a retired military officer, N'Daw, and a civilian Prime Minister, Ouane.

But Col. Goita ousted the transitional President and Prime Minister in a second coup last Monday saying he was not consulted before a cabinet reshuffle in which two military officers, who were instrumental in last year's coup, were dropped from the cabinet.

Ghana's Foreign minister said: “It is hoped that all the political actors in Mali will support the outcome of the Extraordinary Summit...in order to restore constitutional order in our sister country as soon as practicable,” she added.

Ms. Botchwey said "the outcome of the summit will be critical to sustaining the momentum, staying on track for the return of democracy and stability in Mali”. 

The ECOWAS leaders will hear a report from former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who led an ECOWAS mediation team to Mali from last Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the situation.

-0- PANA MA 30May2021