Mali Transitional Government disappointed by sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.

Published: January 12,2022

By staff writer

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed additional sanctions on its member Mali, on Sunday for reasons that the militarygovernment which took power in May last year, is demanding a longer transition period.

“The Authority, after deliberations, regrettably observed the failure of the Transition authorities in Mali to take the necessary steps for the organization of the Presidential elections on 27 February 2022, contrary to the agreement reached with the ECOWAS Authority on 15 September 2021 and the commitment in the Transition Charter,” ECOWAS said in a communique after an extraordinary summit of West African leaders in Accra, Ghana.

According to the communique, the new measures include the withdrawal of all ECOWAS ambassadors in Mali, the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Mali and the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Mali, with the exception of the following products: essential consumer goods, pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and equipment, including materials for the control of COVID-19, and petroleum products and electricity.

It also includes the freezing of assets of the Republic of Mali in ECOWAS central banks, the freezing of assets of the Malian state and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks and the suspension of Mali from all financial assistance and transactions from all financial institutions.

The government of Mali said in a statement strongly condemned what it called “illegal and illegitimate” measures taken by ECOWEAS and UEMOA. The sanctions came at a time the Malian Armed Forces are achieving impressive results in the fight against terrorism, which has not happened for over a decade, the statement said.

The Statement by the Malian authorities further saysthat, the imposition of an embargo by the Heads of State and Government by UEMOA on a sovereign state is a clear violation of the UEMOA treaty and the Bylaws of the BCEAO. The Malian authorities also observed that the freezing of assets of a State, public and semi-public companies do not fall under the prerogative of the Central Bank, which remains an independent body to which each Member State has granted its sovereign right of emission. 

The government of Mali considers the sanctions as inhuman taken at a time the country is already affected by the challenges of security and health crises especially the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding the threat of possible deployment of foreign forces, the government called on Defence and Security forces aswell as the population, to be vigilant and remain mobilized. 

The Mali government on a reciprocity basis took action to recall its ambassadors accredited to ECOWAS member States and to close its land and air borders with said states. Assimi Goita, president of the Malian transition called for solidarity and support from friendly countries. 

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