President Muhammadu Buhari is attending the second virtual extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) on the sociopolitical situation in Mali.

All the presidents in the ECOWAS are present, alongside the ECOWAS President, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

The discussions are expected to centre around finding a lasting solution to the political instability in Mali.

The Government of President Ibrahim Keita was recently toppled in a bloodless coup, earning the country sanctions from ECOWAS and other international organisations.

The military junta in place requested for a three- year term in office after which it would return the country to civilian rule.

There has not been a response to this request yet from ECOWAS, but it is expected this would be discussed at this extraordinary summit.

Those physically present at the Executive Council chamber of the State House where President Buhari is joining the summit from include the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyema and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada.

Others are the Minister of Defence Major General Bashir Magashi; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar.

Details shortly…

The Nation