The Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) has named former President Goodluck Jonathan as a special envoy to head the mediation mission of the sub-regional body in Mali.
As a Special Envoy, Mr. Jonathan is to stimulate discussion with all key players in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, members of the opposition, civil society and religious groups, to address the worsening socio-political situation in the West African country.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s planned departure for Bamako, Mr Jonathan vowed to do his best to make sure the mission achieves the desired outcome.
Mr Jonathan also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the Nigerian Government’s help, including supplying an aircraft and other logistics required to make the assignment successful, according to his Media Advisor, Ikechukwu Eze.
Former President Jonathan, who had previously led peace missions to many crisis-ridden nations, is expected to deploy his tremendous goodwill within the continent to facilitate the process of restoring peace in the troubled nation.
The West African country has been rocked by demonstrations, triggered by the results of the March and April parliamentary elections, alleged frustration with the government’s treatment of Mali’s jihadist insurgency and deteriorating economic condition.
The nomination of the former President has been conveyed to him in a letter signed by ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
It said: “Given your position as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great role and contributions your tenure offered to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our region, I have the honour, in consultation with the Chair of the Authority, H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger, to communicate to you, the decision to appoint you as ECOWAS Special Envoy for the sociopolitical crisis in Mali.”
Mr Jonathan will participate in talks with all key parties interested in the current conflict in Mali to ensure a common ground is reached in the search for peace.
