Gathered in Accra on Sunday following a new coup by the Malian military, ECOWAS member states have decided to suspend Mali, said one of the heads of state present at RFI’s special envoy. But there will be no financial sanctions.
as reported from Bamako, Serge Daniel, and our special correspondent in Accra,Peter Sassou Dogbe
“After lengthy discussions, the Heads of State and Government have decided to suspend Mali from the institutions of the Community of West African States (ECOWAS),” the ten heads of state said in a statement. Present at the ECOWAS Summit in Accra, this Monday 30 May 2021.
In Accra, the extraordinary summit of ECOWAS heads of state imposed institutional sanctions on Mali. For the time being, the country will no longer be able to participate in sessions of Heads of State, Council of Ministers or even sessions of Parliament of the sub-regional institution.
Lines of action
The purpose of the summit was to define the lines of action for the transition. Two things to remember: the first is that the Heads of State strongly condemned this recent coup d’etat, which according to the final communication is a “violation of the decisions taken at the Extraordinary Summit held. 15 September 2020” and a violation of the Transitional Charter In addition, Assimi Goïta, who was in the Ghanaian capital, did not attend the summit.
Second thing: Mali is suspended from all cases in the community. This means that Mali is now isolated in ECOWAS. The Conference of Heads of State has called for strict compliance with the timetable for the transition. A civilian prime minister will be appointed with an inclusive government to continue the transition program.
Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum wanted to clarify these decisions.
“It was not possible that we did not impose sanctions.”
Mohamed Bazoum, Niger President
From now on, it is illegal authorities that have just taken power and that we have condemned. But we have decided to exclude Mali from ECOWAS bodies (…) The mechanism usually prescribed by ECOWAS is not new. This has happened several times before in other countries. It was not possible that we did not impose sanctions.
Ilfaudraau Colonel Assimi Goïta, much skill in appointing a civilian prime minister accepted by all. A monitoring unit for the entire transition will be in place by ECOWAS and Mali has until 27 February 2022 to organize legislative and presidential elections.
At this point, the debate was very heated during the closing session, according to a source close to the Commission, but ECOWAS reiterated the internal sanctions, according to which the transition leader, vice president and prime minister should not be candidates for the election.
Set the course
But no financial sanctions have been imposed and Colonel Assimi Goïta remains in office. It is therefore a half victory at the subregional level. The Colonel returns quite happy with his stay in Accra. But very quickly he has to take his hand to set the course.
Only a large collection of all strengths can make it possible to combine efforts to achieve this. Especially when we know that the administration is absent in more than half of the national territory. The new interim president must also deal with the security crisis.
The social front is also another hot apple. National Union of Workers of Mali (UNTM) interrupted his strike, but still has his demands in his pocket.
► To read: Mali: the President of the Transition Assimi Goïta at the ECOWAS Summit in Accra
.
