Detained Mali’s president, prime minister released
Mali’s military authority has released interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane from detention following former President Goodluck Jonathan’s intervention.
Ikechukwu Eze, Mr Jonathan’s media aide, disclosed the release of the Malian interim president and his prime minister from detention in a statement made available in Abuja on Thursday.
The statement said Mr Jonathan, who is the mediator of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Mali, had travelled to Bamako on Tuesday to meet with the military leaders and other stakeholders.
“This was after the sudden turn of events in the transition process that led to the detention of the two leaders by the military under the control of Vice President Col. Assimi Goita.
“The mediator and his team had on Wednesday obtained the commitment of the military leaders to release Ndaw and Ouane.”
The statement noted that the commitment came after Mr Jonathan visited the Mali military leaders at Kati Barracks, near Bamako, where Messrs Ndaw and Ouane were being held, to ascertain their health conditions.
“Before visiting the President and Prime Minister in detention, Jonathan had met with Colonel Goita where he demanded their unconditional release.
“He urged the authorities to maintain peace and stability which, according to him, are key to the conduct of the transitional process.
“The release of Ndaw and Ouane early Thursday morning came three days after they were detained and stripped of their powers, nine months after they were appointed to lead the transition government.”
Messrs Ndaw and Ouane had been heading the interim government under the transition charter with the aim of restoring full civilian rule within 18 months.
The development came a day after military officials said the country’s transitional president and prime minister had resigned while in detention.
According to the statement, the mediator, who left Mali on Thursday is billed to present a report to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for further decisions to be taken on the new situation in Mali.
Mr Jonathan was accompanied on the mission by Ghana’s foreign minister and chair of ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
Others were ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Francis Benhazin, United Nations Special Representative in Mali, El Ghassim Wane, and Head of African Union Mission for Mali and the Sahel, Fulgence Zeneth
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Nigeria positioned to power clean energy Future: Tinubu
Mr Tinubu expressed his firm commitment to improve the developmental partnership between the European Union and Nigeria.
Africa
Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone roll out malaria vaccines
With the announcement on World Malaria Day, the number of African countries incorporating the vaccines into their childhood immunisation programmes increased to eight.
NationWide
Group urges FG to decongest custodial centres after Suleja jailbreak
”We also call on the public to pay more attention to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria.”
Politics
PDP unveils 200-member campaign council for Edo 2024 guber election
The advisory council has seven eminent members of the state.
Africa
ECOWAS moves to tackle drug abuse in Sierra Leone, other countries
ECOWAS said the workshop was also to support efforts to tackle drug abuse and provide resources and strategies for member states, particularly Sierra Leone.
Lagos
FG to resume resurfacing of Third Mainland Bridge: Official
She said that the exact dates for the renewed construction would be announced soon.