Nigeria is committed to promoting peace and harmony among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
The president spoke yesterday at State House, Abuja, when he received updates from former Nigerian President Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on the face-off between Mali and Cote D’Ivoire over detained Ivorian soldiers.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, Jonathan is ECOWAS special envoy on the situation in Mali.
About 49 Ivorian soldiers had been detained in Mali for ‘unlawful entry,’ and only the three females in the team have been released, leaving 46. The development is threatening a rupture in the relationship between the two countries.
Cote D’Ivoire has condemned the act as ‘hostage taking,’ and says it may take action, hence the need for intervention of ECOWAS leaders, as advocated by the special envoy, former President Jonathan.
President Buhari pledged an initiative from Nigeria, towards immediate resolution of the impasse.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
