On 5th August 2021, H. E. Ambassador Chikezie Ogbonna Nwachukwu presented his Letter of Credence to H. E. Assismi Goita, the Transition President of the Republic of Mali, at the State House in Kouluoba, Bamako.
During the brief discussion after the presentation, President Assimi Goita stated that Nigeria and Mali have had a longstanding friendly relationship dating back to precolonial times. He stressed that he is confident that the appointment and designation of Ambassador Nwachukwu to Mali would further deepen the good neighbourliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the governments and peoples of both countries.
Colonel Goita strongly commended the efforts of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari in engendering peace and stability in the West African sub-region and the African continent. President Goita particularly recalled the role of Nigeria as a Stabilization Force in Mali since the inception of the crisis in 2012. He applauded the Nigerian contingent and its contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrate Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which has aided significantly in quelling the crisis and bringing peace in some parts of the country.
On his part, Ambassador Nwachukwu recalled the deep, longstanding and dynamic brotherly relations that exist between Nigeria and Mali, and assured President Goita that Nigeria-Mali’s continuous good neighbourliness, friendship, and mutually beneficial cooperation would not only serve the shared interests of our two peoples, but also conduce to peace, stability and development of West Africa and the entire African continent. He further guaranteed President Goita that he will exert his efforts to take Nigeria-Mali’s long-term constructive and cooperative partnership to new heights.
