West African regional bloc ECOWAS has asked Mali to form a government of national unity after tens of thousands of people joined anti-government protests in the capital Bamako.
ECOWAS has also asked Mali’s officials to re-run some of its contested local elections to restore serenity to the country.
Protesters were on the streets on Friday for the second time in a month to demand that President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita steps down.
They accuse President Keita of failing to tackle Mali’s major crises. They held placards that read “IBK must go” and “No to bad governance”.
Mali has for years now struggled to overcome the activities of terrorists with the region remaining unstable since 2012 when jihadist fighters seized the desert north of the country.
Although French troops helped to recapture the north, violence still continues. Not even the presence of United Nations troops will help restore order.
Keita, who was re-elected in 2018 for a second five-year term, has struggled to address the security crisis.
Political tension continues to surge and people also dispute recently held local elections in March.
The polls recorded low turnout due to fears of attacks by jihadist groups who roam the desert north.
ECOWASA sent in a group for a two-day mission to the country and said in a statement that it “invites the Government of the Republic of Mali to reconsider the results of all the districts which have been subject to review.”
The statement added that “New elections for the constituencies concerned should be organized as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile the chairman of the African Union commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has urged President Keïta and opposition groups to work together to end the political crisis in the country.
Source: Africafeeds.com
