The African Union (AU) and ECOWAS on Friday jointly solicited the support of Nigeria in tackling the deteriorated political situation in Mali.
?ECOWAS Chairman, President Allasane Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire disclosed this after a tripartite meeting with AU Chairman, President Boni Yayi of Benin and President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.
?Addressing State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting, Quattara, said the situation in Mali was a source of concern to the sub-region and needed urgent attention.
?“As you know, Mali is a problem for all of us in West Africa, so I came to get the advice and support of President Jonathan on some of the problems we have in the sub region.
He said the decisions arrived at in resolving the political crises would be made public in the next few days.
?Quattara said he had earlier participated in the inaugural lecture of Course 21 of the National Defence College in Abuja.
?He said the theme of the lecture, “ECOWAS as an instrument of security and peace’’, was key to their meeting.
?The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that following the March 22 coup de tat in Mali, ECOWAS, AU and other international organisations had taken decisive steps to restore democratic order in the country.
?At the extra-ordinary summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Dakar, Senega, on May 3, President Jonathan had called for stiffer sanctions against the military junta in Mali.
Jonathan had also condemned the refusal of the military juntas to restore democracy in Mali in line with ECOWAS directive.
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