STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ORGANISATION OF THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC STATES ON THE EVOLVING SITUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MALI

Brussels, 19 August 2020/OACPS: On behalf of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Secretary-General, H.E Mr. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, condemns the military coup d’état which took place in the Republic of Mali on Tuesday, 18 August 2020. The Secretary-General takes note of the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and calls for the release of the President, Prime Minister and the other Government officials who are being detained. H.E. Mr. Chikoti reiterates his rejection of any manner of accession to power through unconstitutional means.

In following closely the evolving situation, the Secretary-General calls on all the parties concerned to pursue dialogue and consensual outcomes that will preserve the integrity of democratic processes and institutions, as well as the respect for the rule of law. He urges all Malians to exercise the utmost restraint in this difficult situation.

H.E. Mr. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti commends the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS) for their mediation efforts and urges ECOWAS to continue their engagement in resolving the political situation in the Republic of Mali. The Secretary-General supports the position of ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the international community in calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the Republic of Mali and a return to constitutional order.