NEWS: Mali’s sanctions set to take longer than expected to be lifted

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:22 am

It was hoped the Sunday appointment of Mali’s new civilian prime minister, Moctar Ouane, should elevate sanctions imposed by neighbouring countries.

ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali soon after the junta led August 18 coup and said they would be lifted after civilian leaders have been appointed at some stage in the transition period.

But the bloc of West African leaders can also take goal at junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita being appointed vice president.

He was once one of the junta leaders who took power and toppled president Keita last month.

Former defence minister Bah Ndaw used to be sworn in as intervening time president on Friday and after announcing a new top minister, he appearing to meet these conditions.

But Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari’s workplace said regional leaders “may confer once more to discuss exquisite grey areas in the Mali political situation” after he met ECOWAS envoy and Nigerian ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

The statement said Buhari informed the envoy to present a formal document to the ECOWAS chairman, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, “who will then write us officially, and we then determine the subsequent steps”.

“According to the exceptional envoy, the military leaders are yet to satisfy ECOWAS demand of a full civilian as vice president, and what his roles would be in government,” the assertion said.

(AFP)