LOMÉ
Togo
Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe has agreed to act as a mediator in Mali's political crisis as the West African country's military junta faces pressure to re-establish civilian rule, their foreign ministers said.
Mali has been in turmoil since
the military seized power in the Sahel state in August 2020, with negotiations
ongoing over the length of time needed to restore constitutional order.
Relations between former
colonial power France and the junta have also deteriorated, with Mali breaking
off from its defence accords with Paris on Monday, condemning "flagrant
violations" of its national sovereignty by French troops.
Mali's Foreign Minister
Abdoulaye Diop and his Togolese counterpart told reporters late Wednesday in
Togo's capital Lome that Gnassingbe had agreed to act as a facilitator in the
crisis.
"We asked President Faure
Gnassingbe to use his good office, wisdom and experience to facilitate dialogue
with regional actors and more broadly dialogue with the entire international
community," Diop said.
"The situation we are in
today requires that we show political genius about how to get out of this
situation."
Togo's Foreign Minister Robert
Dussey confirmed the offer was accepted.
Mali's military junta
initially promised to restore civilian rule, but has been hit with sanctions
after it failed to meet a commitment to West African bloc ECOWAS to hold
elections in February this year.
Diop said because of the
security situation in Mali and the need for reforms, the country would need 24
months to return to constitutional order.
Mali's military leader Assimi
Goita first seized power in 2020 following protests over the government's
handling of a war against a jihadist offensive in the country.
Goita staged another coup in
2021 to oust civilian leaders and was sworn in as interim president.
He has so far resisted
international calls to hold elections. - AFP
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