President Muhammadu Buhari has supported the call for a 12 month Transition Process to civilian rule in Mali by its current military rulers.
President Ibrahim Keita had been toppled in a military coup after weeks of civil unrest and protests against the government.
The President, his Prime Minister and senior members of his government were detained by the Mutinous Soldiers.
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Although the coup was welcome by Malians, the international community including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the incident and demanded the release of President Keita and members of his cabinet.
ECOWAS member states have been working to resolve the political situation in Mali, the latest effort being a meeting between the leadership of the regional organisation on Friday.
At the end of the meeting, President Buhari issued a statement regarding this recommendation to the regional body on the way forward regarding the political crisis in Mali.
Buhari added his voice to the demand for the release of all senior government officials still in detention without pre-condition.
He also stated that a the military junta must start a transition process, involving all stakeholders to be completed within 12 months.
President Buhari stated that the conditions were necessary to bring Mali back into the fold of regional cooperation as well as the lifting of sanctions.
He Promised that Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries will provide support and logistics needed for the conduct of elections to re-establish democratic rule in Mali.
The Nigerian President expressed his thanks for the efforts of the ECOWAS meditator in Mali, Former President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the rest of the regional body for its efforts at establishing peace in Mali.
At our ECOWAS leaders meeting today, I put forward the following recommendations for the military leadership in Mali:
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 28, 2020