ECOWAS has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mali's Transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.

A communique issued by ECOWAS, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the demand was made when an ECOWAS Delegation led by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former Nigerian President and ECOWAS Mediator in the Socio-political crisis in Mali, paid a visit to Mali.

Other members of the delegation included Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and Dr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission.

The rest are General Francis A. Behanzin, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr El Ghassim Wane, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Mali, Head of the Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and Mr Fulgence Zeneth, Head of the African Union Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL).

The communique said the Mission to Bamako, Mali, was in conformity with the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and in response to the sudden turn of events in the Transition Process in Mali.

It said the purpose of the Mission was to ascertain the facts that led to the sudden turn of events and hold consultations with all the stakeholders to maintain the peace and stability that were key to the conduct of a successful transition process.

It said the ECOWAS Mediator held consultations with Colonel Assimi Goita, Vice President of the Transition Government on the situation at hand and to consider the most appropriate political exit strategy to the crisis.

It said the Mediator demanded and indeed met with the President of the Transition and the Prime Minister to ascertain their current health condition.

The communique noted that at the meeting with the President of the Transition, the Mediator took note of the desire of the President of the Transition and the Prime Minister to resign from their positions.

It said the Mediator would present a report to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads State and Government for further decision to be taken on the situation in Mali.

It reiterated that the Mediator would continue to remain seized of the situation in Mali through the Local Monitoring Committee.