ECOWAS has “decided to authorise the immediate deployment of troops to Mali, a statement said in Abuja on Saturday.
?The statement by the Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, President Alassane Ouattara, said measures would be taken to implement the decision to assist the Malian Army to defend the nation's territorial integrity.
?It said the chairman took the decision in consultation with his peers and in conformity to Resolution 2085 of the UN Security Council.
?The statement said the deployment was “within the AFISMA framework’’ and added that ECOWAS was committed to support the Malian Government to tackle its security crisis.
?“The authority recalls its previous decisions on Mali and reaffirms its commitment to support the Malian Government in overcoming the security crisis.
“It shall hold responsible any individual or group threatening national cohesion and the decisions of ECOWAS and the African Union,” the statement said.
It called on the transitional authority to expedite action on the establishment of an agency responsible for political dialogue with rebel groups that renounced terrorism and violence in Mali.
It expressed gratitude to the African Union, UN, partner countries and the international community for their efforts aimed at stabilising the situation in Mali.