President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday urged West African leaders to mount pressure on the military leadership in Mali to return to civil rule.

The President made the call in his statement at the 59th Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Accra, Ghana.

Mali was recently suspended from the regional bloc due to a military coup.

Buhari said while democracy continues to develop, recent events in the nation are sad reminders that vigilance remains crucial to protect people’s aspirations to freely choose their government.

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”Pressures are needed to ensure that the transition process in Mali, which is half-way to its conclusion, is not aborted.”

Buhari lamented that about half of the country is under the grip of terrorists.

The Nigerian leader warned that a further slide could prove catastrophic to the sub-region.