Former President Goodluck Jonathan will lead a peace
delegation to Mali to negotiate the immediate release of Ibrahim Keita, the
ousted president, and the restoration of constitutional government.
The delegation was set up by the Economic Community of West
African State (ECOWAS) following the political crisis rocking Mali and Keita’s
resignation.
Jonathan is due to arrive Bamako, the capital city, on
Saturday alongside 14 other leaders in the region to meet with the junta
leaders.
A coup by mutinying soldiers, on Tuesday, led to Keita’s
resignation hours after he was arrested alongside other high-ranking officials.
The coup leaders, who identified themselves as the National
Committee for the Salvation of the People, later declared their intention to
form a civilian transitional government and promised “a reasonable timeline”
for holding new elections.
Jonathan, who is ECOWAS special envoy to Mali, had visited
Mali to mediate on the crisis in July.
Another ECOWAS delegation, including Buhari, also visited
the country for discussions on restoring peace in the country, but the talks
did not yield results.
Reacting to the request for a meeting with the leaders, a
junta official was quoted as saying: “We will receive the ECOWAS delegation
with pleasure… it is important to talk to our brothers”.
On Friday, a team from the UN Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), visited Keita and other detained
government officials.
Keita is said to be held at a location outside Bamako
alongside Boubou Cissé, former prime minister.
The 75-year-old ousted leader, who “looked tired but
relaxed” reportedly has no access to TV, radio or phone.
The other detainees are reportedly being held at a training
centre, where they are sleeping on mattresses and watching television,
according to witnesses.
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