US special envoy for the Sahel arrives in Bamako
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The special envoy of the United States of America for the Sahel region, Dr. J. Peter Pham, arrived in Bamako on Wednesday for a three-day visit to Mali, PANA learned on Thursday from reliable sources.
During his stay, which will end on Saturday, Pham will meet with the transitional government, as well as with civil society leaders, religious leaders and officials from the United Nations, the African Union, the G5 Sahel and the diplomatic community.
According to his programme, Pham will try to urge the transitional government to honor its commitments to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in particular the holding of free and fair elections every 18 months.
He will also encourage the commitments of the new Malian authorities to fight corruption, address human rights concerns, reform electoral processes and implement the 2015 Accord for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.
The United States of America condemned the coup d'état that took place on October 18 in Mali and quickly demanded a return to civilian power, in accordance with ECOWAS recommendations.
-0- PANA GT/IS/KND/VAO 1Oct2020
