Abuja - Nigeria — The Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and President of Cote d'Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Dramane Ouattara has reaffirmed the region's uncompromising resolve to return Mali to constitutional rule. Speaking in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Saturday, 7th July 2012, at the opening of one-day 2nd Meeting of the regional Contact Group on the Mali crisis, he said the objective is to deepen discussions with the Malian Government and other stakeholders, including representatives of the National Parliament, Political Parties and the civil society, to strengthen the Malian nation for the restoration of its democracy and territorial integrity.

In addition to the military coup on 22nd March 2012, which toppled the government of elected President Ahmadou Toumani Toure, Mali is also facing a separatist rebellion in the North. "We cannot accept the division of Mali nor can we accept terrorist destructions, drug trafficking or extremism," the ECOWAS Chairman told the gathering, adding that mechanisms should put in place for the creation of a Government of national unity. Expressing the same sentiments in his address of welcome, the regional Mediator on the Mali crisis, Burkina Faso's President, His Excellency Blaise Compaore, described the meeting as a further manifestation of the determination by ECOWAS and partners to find a lasting solution to the Malian crisis by involving all stakeholders. With the fragile situation of governmental institutions in Bamako and continued deterioration in the North of Mali, he said the Contact Group's meeting came within the framework of ongoing regional initiative towards resolving the Mali crisis.

President Compaore therefore called on Malians to do their part, reminding them that regional negotiations and other initiatives have the backing of the international community, including the UN Security Council which on Thursday 5th July 2012, adopted a strong Resolution on Mali in New York. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Kadre Desire Ouedraogo briefed the summit on the progress and way forward on the regional initiatives. This was followed by presentations by the Malian stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, parliament, Committee of Northern Citizens, youth and women's associations, and the private sector. The meeting attended by leaders of Benin Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Nigeria, Togo and host Burkina Faso later went into a closed-door session. The Seven-nation Contact Group on the Mali crisis, comprises, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.

Also at the 2nd Meeting were Mrs. Rokia Guikine Traore, Minister of African Integration and Malians Abroad, who represented the Malian Transitional Government, President of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Mr. Cheick Adjibou Soumare, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Mr. Said Djinnit, a representative of the European Union and ECOWAS Commission officials. The meeting followed the 41st Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held on 29th June, 2012, in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire, which was dominated by the crises in Malian and Guinea-Bissau.