The ECOWAS Heads of States, on Tuesday in Abidjan, suspended Mali and demanded for the immediate restoration of democratic rule in the country.

The regional economic bloc had also mandated the Heads of Government of Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso to visit the country within the next 48 hours to press on the coup leaders that it would not tolerate coups in the region.

The leaders, in an extra-ordinary meeting, said it wants to send a message that it would have zero tolerance for coups in West Africa.

In a communiqué, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Ouedraogo, however, ruled out the immediate deployment of peace keepers to restore democracy in the country.

The Chairman of ECOWAS, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, had told newsmen after the meeting that Mali had sustained democracy for more than 20 years, with a virile economy.

The military junta in Mali had on March 21, ousted President Ahmadu Toure less than seven weeks to the country’s presidential election. (NAN)

-Vanguard

Posted by admin on Mar 28 2012. Filed under Africa & World Politics, Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry