ECOWAS to keep Mali sanctions in place pending return to civilian rule

Economic sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (‘ECOWAS’) against the Republic of Mali are to stay in place, the regional bloc announced, following a ‘mediation mission’ to the state of a delegation led by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On 26 September, former defence minister and chief of the Malian airforce, Bah N’daw, was sworn into office as President of Mali, following the ousting of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in July.

In a communique, ECOWAS said that while it congratulated Mr N’Daw as transitional President, pending planned elections, the mission ‘recalled the importance and the urgency of appointing a civilian Prime Minister, Head of Government, who will be responsible for conducting, under the authority of the President of the Transition, the various reforms of the inclusive national dialogue and preparing for the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections,’ and said that it would only lift the embargo once that appointment had been made.

The delegation also ‘expressed serious concern over the situation of the civilian and military personalities of the former regime who have been in detention since 18th August 2020.’

It has been reported that imports into Mali have decreased by 30% on account of neighbouring countries closing their borders to the West African state.