Coups in West Africa sub-region: Akufo-Addo considering a 12-month transition in Mali

Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Akufo-Addo, has noted that new arrangements are being considered to ensure Mali returns to democratic governance.

President Akufo-Addo says this has become necessary as the Mali junta failed to adhere to agreements reached with ECOWAS in regard to transition to democratic rule.

Assimi Goita, the Malian colonel who is ruling the country currently, said he would oversee a transition toward democratic elections when he was sworn in as Interim President. But that has not been the case.

In an interview with FRANCE 24 at the EU-African Union Summit in Brussels, President Akufo-Addo noted that ECOWAS will continue to leverage dialogue in ensuring a civilian-led government.

“In these matters the doors never close to talk and negotiation. There are contacts and dialogue going on. As far as we are concerned, there was an agreement between ECOWAS and the transition authorities at the beginning of August, 2020 which required that the transition be brought to an end in February this year, at the end of this month.

At the last minute, we heard from the new junta in Mali that they no longer were in a position to honour that pledge, that they were proposing a 4 or 5 years in office.”

According to the President, “some of us were aghast” by this new development.

“I’m an elected President in Ghana. I have four years in office and an unelected illegitimate regime to want to be in office with the consent of ECOWAS for five years, it sounded outrageous. That is why the proposal was rejected,” he added.

Nonetheless, President Akufo-Addo said he is committed to finding an acceptable framework, therefore, considering a 12-month period of transition.

“We are determined to work towards a more acceptable solution. My own feeling from talking to my peers is that a 12-month period would be an acceptable framework. You hearing it from my mouth, doesn’t mean it is ECOWAS policy. We need to engage and find out how that can work out,” he said.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS has registered its displeasure with the intervention of a mercenary force in Mali.

President Akufo-Addo noted that ECOWAS has opted to resolve the issue with Mali without the presence of foreign mercenaries.

“Everybody is worried. We have a long-standing protocol within ECOWAS, AU, against foreign mercenaries intervening in the lives of our various states. So if there is a mercenary force in Mali, it is a matter that concerns us.

You will know the role foreign mercenaries have played in our history and it hasn’t been a positive one. (They should leave?) obviously, we would prefer to be dealing with the Mali state and government.”

Meanwhile, Assimi Goita has appointed opposition leader and former Minister, Choguel Maiga as Prime Minister.

source: My Joy Online