JUST IN: Jonathan Gets Major Appointment, Thanks President Buhari

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed former President Goodluck Jonathan as a special envoy to lead the sub-regional body’s mediation mission in Mali.

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

This was made known in a statement on Tuesday by the former president’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.

As a special envoy, the former President is expected 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.”

Dr. Jonathan who is billed to depart for Bamako, the Malian capital on Wednesday, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the support of the Nigerian government, including providing an aircraft and other logistics needed to make the assignment successful.

The former president is expected to deploy his enormous goodwill within the continent to facilitate the process of restoring peace in the troubled nation, the statement noted.

Naija News reports that Mali has been hit by protests, following the outcome of parliamentary elections in March and April, discontent over the government’s handling of the nation’s jihadist insurgency and worsening economic situation.