Mali’s foreign minister on Wednesday said Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe has agreed to act as a mediator in the ongoing political crisis as the West African country’s military junta faces pressure to return to civilian rule, reported Eyewitness News.
Mali has been in turmoil since the military seized power in August 2020, with negotiations ongoing over the transitional period needed to restore constitutional order.
Relations between Mali’s military junta and former colonial power France have also deteriorated recently after the Malian military broke off from the country’s defense accords with Paris on Monday, condemning “flagrant violations” of its national sovereignty by French troops.
Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and his Togolese counterpart Robert Dussey told reporters that Gnassingbe had agreed to act as a facilitator in the crisis.
“We asked President Faure Gnassingbe to use his good office, wisdom, and experience to facilitate dialogue with regional actors and more broadly dialogue with the entire international community,” Diop said.
Diop said the current situation requires that the leaders show political genius about how to get out of the difficult situation.
Togo’s Foreign Minister confirmed that the offer was accepted.
Mali’s military junta had initially vowed to restore civilian rule but has been hit with sanctions after it failed to meet a deadline set by the West African bloc ECOWAS to hold elections in February this year.
Diop said because of Mali’s current security situation and the need for reforms, the country would need 24 months to return to constitutional order.
Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita first seized power in 2020 following mass protests against the government’s handling of a war against a jihadist offensive in the country. Goita staged a second coup in 2021 to oust civilian leaders and was sworn in as interim president. He has so far resisted international calls to hold elections.
