The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has appointed Nigeria’s immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a special envoy to lead the sub-regional body’s mediation mission in Mali.
This was disclosed on Tuesday, July 14, in a statement issued by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.
As a special envoy, it is required of the Ex-President to facilitate dialogue “with all principal stakeholders in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition leaders, civil society as well as religious organisations, towards resolving the worsening socio-political situation in the West African country.”
Dr. Jonathan, speaking ahead of his scheduled departure for Bamako, the Malian capital on Wednesday, promised to do his best to ensure that the mission achieves the desired result and outcome.
He expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the support of the Nigerian government, including providing an aircraft and other logistics needed to make the assignment successful.
Jonathan’s appointment was communicated to him in a letter signed by Mr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission.
The letter reads in part:
“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.”
Mali has been hit by several protests, powered by the result of parliamentary elections in March and April, perceived discontent over the government’s handling of the nation’s jihadist insurgency and declining economic situation.
Dr. Jonathan, who had led peace missions to many crises-ridden nations in the past, is expected to utilize his enormous goodwill within the continent to facilitate the process of restoring peace in the troubled nation.
He is to ensure that common ground is found in the search for peace by engaging in consultations with all relevant stakeholders involved in the ongoing dispute in Mali.
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