ECOWAS defence chiefs seek international support on Mali

Abuja, 30 Jul – (ANA) - The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) of ECOWAS Member States has endorsed the report and outcome of the Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) to Mali and called for international support for the planned deployment of an ECOWAS Mission in Mali (MICEMA) to help restore the country’s national integrity and return constitutional order. The Committee also fixed 9 August 2012 for a final planning conference in Mali in preparation for the deployment of the 3,000-strong MICEMA. These were the key decisions of the CCDS’ two-day emergency meeting in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, which ended on 26 July 2012. The meeting was in compliance with the decision of the 41st Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, held in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire in June 2012, which authorized the Technical Mission to evaluate the political, security, humanitarian and human rights situations in Mali, assess the needs of the Malian Army with a view to assisting the country to secure its territorial integrity and restore constitutional order. (ANA)

FA/ANA/30 July 2012---------