Panafrican News Agency

Chairperson of African Union Commission begins West African tour

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, began a mission to West Africa on Sunday, an official statement said.

Mr. Mahamat will travel to Accra, Ghana, "for consultations with Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, current chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)", the statement said.

He will continue his mission in Bamako, Mali, "where he will have working meetings with the authorities of the Malian transition and the political and social actors of the country".

As a reminder, ECOWAS imposed sanctions against Mali on 9 January, the transitional authorities in this country having notified the sub-regional organization of the impossibility of organizing general elections on 22 February which would mark the end of the transition.

At its meeting on 14 January, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) supported the decision of ECOWAS to impose sanctions on Mali and reaffirmed the commitment to respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali as well as the AU's solidarity with the people and government of Mali.

The CPD calls on the chairperson of the AU Commission to engage quickly and directly with the Malian transitional authorities and all stakeholders, including ECOWAS with a view to finalizing a more practical electoral timetable that will be acceptable to all Malian stakeholders and that will lead to a speedy return to a civilian-led government.

It also called on the AU Commission to immediately conduct consultations among the direct neighbouring countries and report on the outcome of these consultations.

-0- PANA GT/JSG/BBA/RA 24Jan2022