Buhari advocates more sanctions on Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali, as measures to ensure return to democratic rule.
Newsonline reports that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday called on ECOWAS member states to unite forces to ensure the Military governments in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali return power to elected governments.
President Buhari made the call in Accra, Ghana, at the ECOWAS 6th Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State, on the political situations in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
President Buhari assured ECOWAS member states that Nigeria supports a peaceful transition of power in West Africa through the ballots, and is committed to ensuring power returns to democratic governments in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
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Buhari who was accompanied to the extra-ordinary session by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd) and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar, said, while Nigeria supports continuous negotiations with the military governments, it supports any further sanctions ECOWAS may deem necessary.
President Buhari said, “Nigeria fully supports any action, including imposition of further sanctions that the Authority may adopt to compel the military leaderships in the two countries to submit an acceptable electoral timetable”.
He continued, “Nevertheless, there is need for ECOWAS to continue to engage the military leaderships and key stakeholders in Burkina Faso and Guinea in order to reach an agreeable understanding, especially on the transition timeframes.”
Newsonline had reported that the 3 West African countries have been under military governments, after successful coups were carried out by the countries soldiers.
Newsonline reported that the Burkina Faso coup was launched on 23 January 2022, which led to the removal of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
Reacting to the Coup, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “strongly” condemned the military “coup” and called on the military “to lay down their arms” and protect the “physical integrity” of the president and the citizens.
