Buhari Embarks On Peace Mission To Mali

By Lukman Amusa

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Wednesday said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), would be departing Abuja for Bamako, Mali, on Thursday.

He said the journey followed the briefing the President received on Tuesday from former President Goodluck Jonathan on the crisis in Mali.

Adesina disclosed this in a statement titled, “President Buhari embarks on peace mission to Mali” made available to journalists.

He wrote, “President Muhammadu Buhari will Thursday depart for Bamako, Republic of Mali on a one-day visit, following the briefing by the ECOWAS Special Envoy to the country, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The Nigerian President and some ECOWAS leaders led by the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional organisation, President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic, agreed to meet in Mali to engage in further consultations towards finding a political solution to the crisis in the country.

“Host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire are expected to participate in the Bamako meeting.

“Former President Jonathan was at the State House in company with President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, on Tuesday to brief President Buhari on the unfolding situation in Mali, necessitating the visit of ECOWAS leaders to consolidate on the agreements reached by various parties.”

Adesina recalled that Buhari, had after listening to Jonathan on Tuesday, promised to ask for a briefing from the ECOWAS chairman.