The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the withdrawal of the ambassadors of member countries from Mali and the closure of both land and air borders with Mali.
The communique issued at the end of the extraordinary meeting of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Sunday in Accra, Ghana, also announced that pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and equipment for Covid-19 and electricity will be exempted from the sanction.
According to the communique, the sanctions include the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Mali and the other member countries of ECOWAS, while the assets of Mali in the ECOWAS Central Bank would be frozen. This includes the assets of Mali’s state enterprises, parastatals and commercial banks.
The ECOWAS Leaders also directed all institutions to ensure that the sanctions, which are with effect, are implemented.
They urged neighbouring Algeria and Mauritania to support the regional body and ensure that the sanctions are fully implemented.
It will be recalled that the Malian military on January 8, 2022, came up with a new five-year transition programme, which was not acceptable to the ECOWAS Leaders, who insisted on the February 22 election timetable previously agreed with the military junta.
The ECOWAS Leaders also ordered the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force to ensure stability in the troubled West African nation.
The Malian military in 2020 toppled the civilian government headed by President Boubacar Keita and announced an 18-month transition programme to return the country to civil rule.
GIK/APA