ECOWAS threatens Mali’s junta with total economic embargo

West African leaders have given Mali’s junta a one-week ultimatum to appoint a civilian leader for the country or face the imposition of a total economic embargo.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had earlier suspended Mali from all decision-making bodies of ECOWAS and placed a partial economic and financial embargo on the country following the military takeover in the country.

ECOWAS on September 15 held a meeting with the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), Mali’s military Junta in Accra, Ghana to discuss the path of rule Mali should adopt.

The mini-summit had in attendance eight heads of state from ECOWAS’ member countries and CNSP President Assimi Goïta.

Mali has been a major topic at earlier summits held on August 28th and September 7th by ECOWAS.

The Junta had earlier turned deaf ears to ECOWAS who had given CNSP a deadline of September 15 that both the president and prime minister of the transitional government both be civilians. However, they appeared at the meeting with ECOWAS on September 15th signaling that they did not dismiss ECOWAS demands.

Mali’s junta had earlier floated the idea of waiting three years before holding a new election but the proposal was swiftly quickly rejected by ECOWAS.

Before now, soldiers overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (IBK) who was elected in 2013 but by 2019 Malians were tired of his government which promised so much but failed to bring either peace or progress to their long-suffering country.

IBK and his prime minister Boubou Cisse was detained by mutinying soldiers, worsening a national crisis in a country already grappling with a jihadist insurgency and mass protests.

The political crises led to riots during which some protesters were killed by security agents. Meanwhile, IBK resigned from his position as Malian President to stop the bloodshed in the country

Since then, ECOWAS has condemned the coup and started a mediation mission under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the crisis.

During the last meeting which held on September 15, ECOWAS restated that its earlier demand that both the president and the prime minister of the transitional government be civilians still stands.

Also, the CNSP be dissolved once the transitional government is in place but they were given a transitional period of 18-month beginning from September 15, 2020.

ECOWAS also stated that once the civilian rule is in place, ECOWAS will fully accompany Mali towards the restoration of constitutional protocol in line with the ECOWAS’s protocol

The earlier imposed sanctions will also be lifted when the president and prime minister are effectively delegated.

Also, the mini-summit also called on all Malian Stakeholders to work together towards the swift return of constitutional order in Mali.