Mali: FG calls for immediate, unconditional restoration of constitutional order

Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

This is even as the government said it welcomed the urgent activation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Standby Force.

The call by the Federal Government followed yesterday mutiny by some group of soldiers in the country which led to the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, made the call on behalf of the government on his Twitter handle, @GeoffreyOnyeama.

“The Nigerian Government unequivocally condemns the the coup d’état that took place in Mali yesterday and demands the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order. We welcome the urgent activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force,” Onyeama said.

Earlier, ECOWAS in a statement  issued  in Abuja, utterly condemned the overthrowing of  Kéita’s  democratically  elected  government.

ECOWAS also categorically  denied any  kind  of  legitimacy  to  the  putschists  and demanded  the  immediate  reinstatement  of  the  constitutional  order.

In the statement, ECOWAS also reminded  the  military of their accountability  for the  safety  and security of President Kéita and officials  arrested.

ECOWAS further demanded  the  immediate  release  of  President  Keita  and  of  all  officials  arrested and suspended Mali from  all  ECOWAS  decision-making  bodies  with immediate  effect.

ECOWAS also decided to  close  all  land and  air  borders,  as  well  as  to  stop  all economical,  trade  and  financial  flows  and transactions between ECOWAS  member states  and  Mali,  and encouraged  all  partners  to do the same.