Member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have once again reiterated their strong commitment to democracy and their rejection of military rule in the subregion by imposing a regime of comprehensive sanctions against the military rulers in Mali.
At the 6th extraordinary session of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government on the political situation in the Republic of Mali held in Ghana on Sunday, members rejected the junta’s transition programme and resolved to impose additional sanctions on the country, including withdrawal of all ECOWAS ambassadors in the country and closure of all land and air borders between Mali and member states.
Other sanctions are, suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Mali, with the exception of essential consumer goods, pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and equipment, including materials for the control of COVID-19 products, and electricity; freeze of the country’s assets in ECOWAS Central Banks; freeze of the assets of the Malian State and the State Enterprises and Parastatals in Commercial Banks; and suspension of Mali from all financial assistance and transactions from financial institutions.
The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in the communique issued at the end of the summit, instructed all Community institutions to take steps to implement these sanctions with immediate effect, stating that they will be lifted gradually only “after an acceptable and agreed transition chronogram is finalised and monitored-satisfactory progress is realised in the implementation of the chronogram for the elections.”
Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the summit. Aside the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who presided, other West African leaders who attended the Summit were Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal; George Weah of Liberia; Patrice Talon of Benin Republic; Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of Burkina Faso, and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire.
Other Heads of State present include Umaro Embalò of the Republic of Guinea Bissau; Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic; Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, and the Vice President of The Gambia, Isatou Touray.
The summit was also attended by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the ECOWAS Mediator for Mali and the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou as well as several representatives of international organisations.
