By Akinwale Kasali
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa as regards the former President’s mediation role for the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, in Mali.
Since the August 2020 Coup in Mali that saw President Ibrahim Keita ousted from power by the Military, Jonathan has worked as a Special Envoy, mediating between ECOWAS and the Military in the country.
It would be recalled that the Military in Mali had said it would delay the Presidential election scheduled for February 2024 which was aimed to return civilian rule.
Two rounds of voting, initially set for February 4 and 18, “will be slightly postponed for technical reasons”, said government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga.
Maiga explained the reasons to include issues related to the adoption of a new Constitution and a review of the electoral lists.
He also mentioned a dispute with the French company Idemia, which the Government said is involved in the census process.
“The new dates for the presidential election will be communicated later,” Maiga affirmed.
However, in January 2022, the Economic Community of West African State imposed sanctions on Mali when the Asimi Goita-led junta planned to stay in power for up to five years.
Bowing to pressure from the regional bloc, the Junta promised to hold the election in February.
Consequently, the ECOWAS lifted a set of trade and financial sanctions on Mali in July 2022.
These were the major reasons Jonathan visited President Tinubu.
Aside the aforementioned reason for the visit, other issues that led to visit were yet to emerge as at filing in of this report.
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