The presidents of Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire – members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – arrived in Bamako on Thursday as part of ongoing regional efforts to resolve a political crisis that triggered deadly clashes between protesters and security forces in recent weeks. The opposition demands President Keita’s resignation as the government struggles to address the country’s multiple crises. Crisis Group expert Jean-Hervé Jezequel says the stakes are high after a previous regional delegation failed to propose a solution that satisfied the opposition. While ECOWAS is intent on preventing further violence and stabilising the situation, its efforts should not come at the expense of fostering much-needed governance reform in Mali, including tackling corruption and providing citizens with basic social services.