The lingering problem in Mali took centre stage Friday as President Goodluck Jonathan met behind closed doors for hours with his
counterparts from Cote d’Ivoire and Republic of Benin, Alassane Quattara and
Boni Yayi respectively.
While Alassane Quattara is the chairman of the Economic Community of West African
states, Boni Yayi is the chairman of
the African Union. Mr Quattara who spoke
with state House correspondents noted that the unfolding development in Mali
necessitated the meeting which he said was to seek President Jonathan’s support
and advice on the challenges.
According to him, a final decision on whether troops would
be deployed in the country would be made public in a couple of days.
”I was invited by President Jonathan to the inaugural
ceremony of the National Defence College. I participated in the ceremony for the
Class of 21 graduates. The theme of the conference was Ecowas as an instrument
of Security and Peace.
”The theme is very key to what we are doing. 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. You will know the decision taken on Mali in the next few days” he said.
He had announced in an interview with French weekly, Le
Journal du Dimanche in July that member
state of ECOWAS would soon deploy troops in Mali if the situation in the
country did not improve rapidly.
He said, “If the (Malian) situation does not evolve
positively and quickly, yes, there will be a military intervention in Mali. It
seems to me inevitable.
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