Former President Goodluck Jonathan briefed President Bola Tinubu on the developments in the West African sub-region on Tuesday when they met at the State House.
Jonathan, the Special Envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in charge of its mediation mission in Mali, stated that he was at the State House to inform Tinubu of the conclusions of talks with other participants in the West African Elders Forum, which he heads.
In his capacity as special envoy, the former president has facilitated communication with key Mali players, such as President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition figures, civil society, and religious organisations, in an effort to address the nation’s socio-political crisis.
“I came to update the President on the operations of several continental and subcontinental bodies,” Jonathan remarked.
“As you may know, I am the West African Elders Forum Chairman and the ECOWAS mediator for Mali. I therefore speak with several Presidents on a number of issues that are touching the continent and the sub-region.
Prior to the June 18 referendum on a new constitution, security personnel from Mali cast their ballots on Sunday, June 11, during early polling.
June 18, “voters will have to respond by a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ to the question: Do you approve of the draft constitution?” government spokesman, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, said
The referendum is considered to be a major milestone in the slow process to elections promised for February 2024.
Mali’s draft Constitution strengthens the power of the President vesting the office with power to appoint the Prime Minister and ministers.
The President also has the powers to sack ministers and dissolve the parliament.
However, a section of the draft describing Mali as a secular state has sparked controversy amongst religious clerics in the predominantly Muslim state.
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