The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States will on Friday hold another Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in Mali.

The summit was convened based on the decision of the extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Heads of State which held on August 20, following the military coup in the West African country.

According to a statement by the ECOWAS Commission on Thursday, the parley will hold virtually through videoconference.

The statement titled, ‘ECOWAS leaders to meet again on the socio-political situation in Mali,’ stated, “ECOWAS has strongly condemned the undemocratic change of government as is against the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and issued some sanctions in the Declaration of August 20, 2020, on the socio-political situation in Mali.”

The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has been mediating in the crisis and had held several mediation and peace missions to Mali.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan had led other ECOWAS leaders in meeting with the coup leaders who were insisting on a three-year transition programme.

The military junta which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, had early on Thursday released the ousted President, Ibrahim Keita, who had been in detention since August 18 when he was toppled.

Keita’s release was a key demand of ECOWAS, the African Union, and the European Union and other international groups.

Source:- Punchng