Buhari attends ECOWAS 2nd virtual summit on Mali crisis

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently participating at the second virtual extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS), on the political situation in the Republic of Mali.

All the presidents in the ECOWAS are present, alongside the ECOWAS President, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

• Mali military rulers free ousted President Keita
• ECOWAS wants interim govt in Mali

The summit is aimed at finding a lasting solution to the political instability in Mali.

President Ibrahim Keita was recently overthrown in a bloodless coup which prompted the West African regional body and other international organisations to impose sanctions on the country.

The junta had requested for a three year term in office after which it would return the country to civilian rule.

The ongoing ECOWAS meeting is expected to provide a clearcut response to request from the military junta.

Those physically present at the Executive Council chamber of the State House, Abuja, where President Buhari is joining the summit from, include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada.

Others are the Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major General Babagana Monguno; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar.