Sierra Leone on Thursday 3rd May 2012, joined ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments in Dakar Senegal in an extraordinary summit, under the Chairmanship of H.E Alassane Ouattara President of Cote d’Ivoire and Chairman of the Authority. The summit was convened to examine the evolution of the political and security situations in both Mali and Guinea Bissau, since the last extraordinary session held on April 26th 2012.

The Heads of State and Government took note of the report of H.E Blaise Compaore, ECOWAS Mediator in the Malian crisis, as well as the President of the ECOWAS Commission on recent developments in the political and security situation in Guinea Bissau and Mali. They also took note of the report of the President of the Regional Contact Group on Guinea Bissau H.E Goodluck Jonathan, relating to the consultations of the Group with the protagonists of the Guinea Bissau crisis.

After a careful analysis of the reports, the Authority strongly condemned the clashes that began on April 12th 2012 in Bamako, and deplored their adverse impact on the life and security of the Malian population already traumatized by recent events in the country. Authority appealed to the Armed Forces for an immediate cessation of the confrontations and to unite in defense of the territorial integrity of the country. 

Authority heard the briefings by the interim President H.E Dioncounda Traore, and the Prime Minister, and took note of their statements on developments in the situation in Mali. Authority urged them to pursue their efforts to consolidate the Republican institutions and, in conjunction with the Mediator, facilitate cooperation between the Government of Mali and ECOWAS with a view to attaining the objectives set by the April 26th 2012 summit.