Leaders of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) met in Accra to lift financial and trade sanctions imposed on Mali in January.
“The summit decided to lift all economic and financial sanctions from today” but maintains individual sanctions and the suspension of Mali from ECOWAS bodies until the return to constitutional order, said at a press conference Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, outgoing President of the Commission of the regional organization.
At its 61st Summit, the West African Organization discussed its retaliatory actions against Mali and Burkina Faso after the juntas’ seizure power in these countries.
Leaders from ECOWAS felt that Mali’s progress in recent weeks warranted a partial lifting or sanctions. Bamako, in particular, has adopted a new electoral code and promised a return to constitutional order by March 20, 2024.
The sanctions included the closure and freezing of Malian assets, as well as the suspension of trade and financial transactions. All of this will be allowed back to normal with immediate effect. Recalled ECOWAS ambassadors in Bamako will be allowed to return to the Malian capital.
Although the financial sanctions targeting the junta’s leaders will be maintained and the country will remain suspended from ECOWAS bodies, the decisions taken Sunday are deemed a very important step forward.
West Africa has witnessed a succession of coups of colonels and lieutenantcolonels within less than two years. These include the 2020 and 2021 elections in Bamako; the Conakry September 5, 2021 putsch; and Ouagadougou January 24, 2022 putsch.
Source: north africa post
