President Buhari Reacts, Condemns Military Coup In Mali

President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, broke his silence about the military coup in Mali which saw soldiers arrest Malian president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé.

It will be recalled Malian President, Keita and his Prime Minister, Cissé, were “arrested” late Tuesday afternoon in Bamako by mutiny Soldiers supporting the opposition.

On Wednesday, Keita announced his resignation and also dissolved the country’s parliament.

Reacting to the developments in a statement on Thursday, President Buhari condemned the military takeover and called for the restoration of constitutional order in the West African country.

He also supported the restrictions imposed on Mali by the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) and called on other international bodies to put more pressure to ensure the speedy return of democracy in the country.

“The events in Mali are great setbacks for regional diplomacy, with grave consequences for the peace and security of West Africa. It is time for the unconstitutional ‘authority’ in Mali to act responsibly and ensure restoration of constitutional order, peace and stability.”

“Nigeria strongly supports the efforts of ECOWAS Chairman, President Mahamadou Issoufou, for wider regional and continental consultations with ECOWAS, the AU and the UN, and the adoption of strong measures to bring speedy resolution to the situation.”

“A politically stable Mali is paramount and crucial to the stability of the sub-region. We must all join efforts, ECOWAS, the AU, the UN and other stakeholders, and work together until sanity returns to Mali with the restoration of Civil Administration,” Buhari stated.

Meanwhile, after explaining that they needed to intervene before the country sinks deeper into chaos, anarchy, and insecurity, the soldiers that masterminded the removal of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from office on Tuesday have announced Malian Army officer Colonel Assimi Goita as the coup leader and head of the current military junta.