President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday assured Mali of Nigeria’s support, based on the requirements of the Economic Community for the West African States (ECOWAS) as the sister country battles political crises.

“We will make as much sacrifice as we can for Mali, within ECOWAS requirements,” Mr Buhari said, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.

He gave the assurance while he received a special envoy from Assimi Goita, the Transitional President of Mali. The country’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Abdoulaye Maiga, led a team, which briefed Mr Buhari on the conclusions from the National Conference on State-Rebuilding, held in Bamako, between December 27 and 30, 2021.

Mr Buhari said although every country has its internal issues, nobody could love Mali like the Malians themselves.

“Nigeria will work within ECOWAS limitations to assist Mali. Every country has its issues. We fought our own Civil War before, so we may not know the totality of the internal politics of each country,” the president said.

He, however, counselled that everyone should work within the tenets of ECOWAS, in order to restore constitutional order to the West African country at the shortest possible time.

The special envoy expressed gratitude to Nigeria for support to his country in terms of bilateral relations, and for the help rendered to the ECOWAS Mediation Team, led by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the vision of Colonel Goita was a speedy return to democracy, adding that “Mali wants to review laws guiding elections and professionalise the process.”

(NAN)