Tag Archives: ecowas
Mali requests military assistance to free north: France
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Mali’s interim leader has made a formal request to west African regional body ECOWAS for military assistance to help free the country’s north, which has been occupied since April by Islamists, France’s special representative for the Sahel said on Tuesday. Jean Felix-Paganon said he was informed of the decision during a meeting with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, who chairs the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Continue reading
France wants European solution to Sahel crisis
PARIS/OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Europe should get involved directly to help solve the worsening crisis in Mali and the Sahel once the U.N. Security Council endorses an African request to allow the use of force in the country, France’s defense minister said on Monday. The push for greater EU involvement came as Islamist group Ansar Dine, which appears to have the upper hand among rebel groups occupying northern Mali, confirmed it was in talks with mediators from West African regional bloc ECOWAS. Continue reading
Bissau president and ex-premier freed by soldiers
BISSAU (Reuters) – Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau released two leading politicians they had arrested in an April 12 coup and said on Friday they would accept the planned deployment to the country of over 600 soldiers from West African regional bloc ECOWAS. Continue reading
U.N.-African delegation tells Mali junta to go
BAMAKO (Reuters) – A delegation of U.N. and African officials has told the military junta that seized power in Mali on Wednesday night to hand back power, saying its plan to fix Mali’s problems and restore security before stepping down will not work. Continue reading
