President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Bamako, the capital of Mali, wearing a face mask as he and other West African leaders attempt to mediate over the political crisis bedevilling the francophone country.
Presidential Buhari disembarked from the presidential jet at the Modibo Keita International Airport, Bamako, on Thursday and met with his counterparts: Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger and Chairman of Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, Macky Sall of Senegal and Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, had disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that his principal would join other West African leaders to engage in further consultations towards finding a political solution to the crisis in Mali.
Upon alighting from the presidential jet, President Buhari was spotted in a photograph wearing a face mask, the first he has been seen publicly dressed in the protective covering since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The photograph was shared by his personal photographer, Bayo Omoboriowo, on Thursday, with the caption: “@MBuhari arrives Bamako, Mali for the peace mission by the ECOWAS Head of states. 23rd July, 2020.”
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 constituted by the President has recommended the compulsory use of face mask while in public as one of the measures to curb the spread of the virus.
But President Buhari has not been seen wearing any face mask while receiving visitors at the Presidential Villa until today in Mali.
