Again, Mali waits for ECOWAS mediators

Again, Mali waits for ECOWAS mediators

By Tasie Theodore

The people of Mali are waiting for the promised mediators from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to visit their country Saturday in yet another attempt at resolving the thorny political situation in the Sahelian start.

This is coming against the backdrop of the resolution by the Authority of Heads of States of ECOWAS, Thursday, when they rose from their emergency session to demand the reinstatement of ousted President Ibrahim Keita.

While the demand by the sub-regional grouping is consistent with its charter, close watchers of the situation say that ground variables may eventually determine whether this demand would ultimately be met.

At the moment, feelers are that the military rulers who are presently running affairs in Mali are already discussing with the Senegalese authorities to accommodate the deposed President on exile grounds in their country.

However, the office of President Macky Sall of Senegal was yet to confirm news of the negotiations as at press time and it was also unconfirmed if ECOWAS is being formally carried along in the back-room discussions.

The visit of the team of mediators from ECOWAS is also a fall-out of Thursday’s emergency session of the leaders, which had also resolved to put the ECOWAS StandBy Military Force on notice.

Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan had been atop several previous mediation talks on the crisis that have however yet failed to deliver concrete results.

Goodluck Jonathan: led previous mediation sessions