ECOWAS Mediation, Security Council to Meet in Abidjan On Mali, Guinea-Bissau

11 April 2012
Content from a Premium Partner
Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Abidjan - Cote d'Ivoire — Ministers of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council will meet in Abidjan on Thursday, 12th April 2012 to review proposals for resolving the political crises in Mali and Guinea Bissau.

The meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs, who will be joined by their counterparts in charge of defence, will consider recommendations by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadire Desire Ouédraogo on the regional responses to the evolving situation in Mali where separatist rebels have taken over sections of the north of the country and following the now-reversed 22nd March 2012 military coup d'état.

The ministers will also consider the report of the 5th April 2012 meeting of the regional Chiefs of Defence Staff, including the proposals for possible deployment of a regional force to assist in securing the territorial integrity of Mali against the Toureg rebellion.

At their extra-ordinary summit in Abidjan on 29th March 2012, ECOWAS leaders served notice of the possible deployment of the regional Standby Force, should the rebels refuse to observe a ceasefire and engage in dialogue to resolve the political situation in northern Mali. The summit also appointed President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso as mediator of the Mali crisis, and impressed upon the coup makers to revert to constitutional order.

The intervention of regional leaders, including through the suspension of Mali and imposition of legal, economic and diplomatic sanctions on the country, has already resulted in an agreement by the military junta to restore constitutional order by handing over to the Speaker of the National Assembly on Thursday, 11th April 2012 as a first step.

The Mediation and Security Council ministerial meeting will also consider proposals by President Ouedraogo for resolving the post-election crisis threatening to destabilise Guinea Bissau. A joint delegation of ECOWAS, African Union and UN officials led by the President of the ECOWAS Commission visited the country on 31st March 2012 and met with stakeholders as part of regional efforts to douse tension over the disputed outcome of the inconclusive 18th March 2012 presidential election to replace President Bacai Sanha, who died on 9th January2012.

The dispute has stalled the organization of a run-off poll between the two presidential frontrunners - former Prime Minister Carlos Gomes and former President Kumba Yala - with the latter alleging fraud in the first round balloting.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2012 Economic Community of West African States. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.