The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS plan to restore peace in the strife-torn Northern part of Mali received a boost ,Tuesday, as Nigeria announced a military intervention of 3200 ECOWAS troops.
The United Kingdom also pledges necessary support to complement the effort.
Minister of state for Defence Erelu Olusola Obada who confirmed the development noted that Northern Mali has been under severe attacks orchestrated by some faceless terrorists who have hijacked the zone and not only make lives and property un saved but political transition programme hard.
Erelu Olusola Obada who spoke on Tuesday, when she received the visiting British Prime Minister’s special Envoy on the Sahel, Mr. Stephen O-Brien, the minister told his guest that the ECOWAS Heads of State have resolved to send the troops to restore peace in order to guarantee peace and security in the affected part of the troubled nation.
According to her, the menace of terrorism in the Northern Mali has been “a great concern not only to everyone in the sub-region but also to the International Community.” She lamented how the terrorists are making life difficult in the area and how the proposed election could not be held in other to allow every part of the country to be involved.
The Minister was optimistic that the military intervention was an enforcement of the UN Revolution 2071 as resolved by the ECOWAS Heads of State in the region adding, “the resolution has been forwarded to the UN through the African Union.”
The Minister explained to the British delegation that until the crisis is resolved, the possibility of conducting election in the country is nil. “It would not be proper to hold election in the South and leaving the whole North out of it. If the election would hold, it has to be in the whole country’’. Obada also appreciated the support pledged by the British government and further solicited for the additional supports from the International Community.
Earlier in his address Brien had appreciated the role Nigeria is playing in the sub-region and disclosed that it was the same reason that made the UK government resolved to contact the country on what could be done to assist in the restoration of peace in the Northern Mali.
O-Brien, accompanied by the acting British High Commission to Nigeria, Mr. Giles Lever and two others told newsmen that whatever assistance his country would give would largely be determined by Nigeria. He also promised to seek further help from the International Community.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff, directors in the Ministry and some top military officers
