The ECOWAS Commission on Thursday condemned the coup by some renegade who announced the overthrow of the government of Amodou Toure of Mali.
A statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Commission's President Désiré Ouedraogo warned that the commission would not condone any recourse to violence as a means of seeking redress.
“The disturbances sparked by elements within the armed forces are all the more reprehensible, coming amidst the on-going regional and international efforts to seek a peaceful solution to the rebellion in the north of the country.''?
It noted that the soldiers’ action also came just a day after a special ministerial session of the AU Peace and Security Council on the matter ended in Bamako.
“ECOWAS strongly condemns the misguided actions of the mutineers and warns that it will not condone any recourse to violence as a means of seeking redress.
“The Commission wishes to remind the military of its responsibility under the Constitution, and to reiterate ECOWAS’ policy of? “Zero Tolerance” for any attempt to obtain or maintain power by unconstitutional means,'' it said.
The statement said the Commission was closely monitoring developments in the country and would respond “appropriately to any attempts to further disturb the precarious security situation''.?