ECOWAS Appoints Jonathan Special Envoy For Mali

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been appointed as a special envoy for Mali by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to lead the regional body’s mediation efforts in that country.

Media aide to the former President, Ikechukwu Eze, who announced the appointment on Tuesday said the Jonathan is billed to head to Bamako on Wednesday to facilitate dialogue “with all principal stakeholders in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition leaders, civil society as well as religious organisations, towards resolving the worsening socio-political situation in the West African country.”

Jonathan’s appointment was communicated to him in a letter signed by Mr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission.

The letter reads in part, “Given your position as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great role and contributions your tenure offered to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our region, I have the honour, in consultation with the Chair of the Authority, H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger, to communicate to you, the decision to appoint you as ECOWAS Special Envoy for the sociopolitical crisis in Mali.”