When we first heard of a reported coup in the West African state of Mali, we could not believe our ears, simply because we thought the era of military takeovers is gone.
However, it seems that coups and counter-coups are becoming too much in Africa, and that all efforts should be deployed to end such a situation.
On Thursday, soldiers in Mali announced they have seized power in the country, and have ordered its borders closed, and until late last evening the whereabouts of President Amadou Toumani Toure was unknown.
We strongly condemn the coup in the West African country, and join the calls for a return to constitutional rule as soon as possible.
We are also calling on all actors in Mali to engage in a dialogue to ensure stability in the country. In the same vein, we urge sitting African leaders to institute term limits and uphold good governance and the rule of law.
Self perpetuating rule in some African countries has resulted in coups and counter-coups in many countries in Africa.
Our leaders must learn from their counterparts in the West and elsewhere, where term limits, democracy and rule of law is well adhered to.
We are aware that the ousted leaders in Mali were paragons of good political governance, and the coup there cannot be justified by the soldiers.
We believe that the soldiers in Mali must return to their barracks, and allow democracy, which is all about the people deciding the governance process, to prevail in that country.
