ECOWAS announces new sanctions against Mali

  Xinhua news agency, Accra, January 9 (reporter Xu Zheng) - the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced new sanctions against Mali on the 9th to urge the transitional government of Mali to restore democratic order as soon as possible.

  Leaders of ECOWAS Member States held a special summit in Accra, Ghana, on the same day to discuss the development of the political situation in Mali. According to the communique issued after the meeting, in view of the lack of willingness of the transitional government of Mali to complete the political transition by February 2022, ECOWAS decided to maintain the previous sanctions against the transitional government of Mali and implement new sanctions at the same time.

  The communique said that the new sanctions include the immediate recall of all ECOWAS member states' ambassadors to Mali; Close the land and air borders with Mali; Suspend all financial and economic exchanges with Mali, except for the supply of drugs and medical supplies, oil and electricity; Freeze Mali's assets in the Central Bank of ECOWAS. only after the transitional government of Mali has finalized an acceptable transition timetable and made satisfactory progress in the implementation of the elections can the sanctions be gradually lifted.

  In August 2020, there was a military mutiny in Mali. The National People's redemption Committee established by the mutineers subsequently announced that former Minister of defense and veterans ENDOR was appointed as the transitional president, and the chairman of the National People's redemption Committee goita was appointed as the transitional vice president. On May 26, 2021, the Malian military said that ENDOR resigned on the same day. The Constitutional Court of Mali subsequently announced that goita took over the post of transitional president until the end of Mali's political transition period.

  In November 2021, because the transitional government of Mali said that it could not complete the political transition and hold elections before February 2022, ECOWAS decided to impose sanctions on the transitional government of Mali, including a travel ban and property freeze on members of the transitional government and their families.