By Mohamed Macarthy
A visiting high-level delegation from the Republic of Mali has held discussions with President Julius Maada Bio at State House in Freetown.
The one-day working visit aims to engage President Bio on the return to constitutional democracy and peace in the West African country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop led the delegation and conveyed greetings from the interim President of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita to President Bio, whom they addressed as colleague and brother.
The Minister also shared their government’s experience on how to return Mali to constitutional rule and maintain peace.
“I am here as a special envoy from the interim President of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita,to seek the guidance and expertise of Sierra Leone’s President to be an engine of peace, security and stability in the sub region”, he said.
Diop added that they want to reassure the leadership of ECOWAS about their willingness to return Mali to constitutional order, noting that the country is presently facing many difficult challenges.
He said that they wanted to tap into the experience and expertise as well as the role of President Julius Maada Bio in returning Sierra Leone to constitutional rule and transfer of power from a military to a democratic civilian rule.
In his reaction, President Julius Maada Bio commended the special envoy, the Malian delegation and the interim President of Mali for their trust in his continued support to help facilitate the return to a peaceful democratic rule in Mali and the sub-region.
President Bio added that just as in the days of the civil war in Sierra Leone when Mali came to help the country, his government is now willing to give technical assistance and also make available their expertise to help the progress of restoring peace and security to the country.
Sierra Leone’s President at the Accra, Ghana ECOWAS Extra-ordinary Session in May 2021 called for consultations with stakeholders on the political situation in Mali.
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