ECOWAS slams Mali with economic sanctions

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), agreed yesterday to close borders with Mali after a meeting of the Heads of State in Accra, Ghana.

It also inflicted extensive economic sanctions on Mali in response to “unacceptable” delays to hold elections after a 2020 military coup.

The decision followed the West African leaders summit to discuss a proposal from Mali’s transitional authorities to hold elections in December 2025 instead of next month as originally agreed.

This came as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, said yesterday there is a strong resolve by the ECOWAS and the international community not to accept coups d’etat or any other form of unconstitutional change of government in the region.

Osinbajo spoke with reporters in Accra after participating at an Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

In a communique, ECOWAS said it found the proposed timetable for a transition totally unacceptable.

This timetable “simply means that an illegitimate military transition Government will take the Malian people hostage,” it said.

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