How Mali’s political crisis could affect Nigeria – Obasanjo

Former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned that the ongoing political crisis in Mali, could affect Nigeria.

Obasanjo stated this in an article he wrote for The Africa Report on Thursday.

He noted that the crisis poses grave security risks to neighbouring West African countries especially Senegal, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.

There is a protest movement in Mali, calling for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, over allegations of corruption and incompetence.

Obasanjo feels the protest is different from those in the past, because it has the support of majority of the population.

“The current political turmoil in Mali is of grave concern considering the multidimensional impact of an escalation of the political impasse on about 19 million citizens and what a destabilized Mali will mean to West Africa,” he wrote.

“The consequences will reverberate across the whole West Africa region, with the safety and security of Senegal, Burkina Faso and Niger directly at risk. If those countries stumble, the effects will ripple across coastal states such as Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Guinea. It will reverberate even to Nigeria.”

Obasanjo says for the crisis to be resolved, an agreement “which will not compromise democracy, security and human rights” must be reached to bring the protests to an end.