Credit: ecowas.int/  The Economic Community of West African States, also known as ECOWAS, is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa.

By  Gary  Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS Friday said it will keep crippling sanctions in place on Mali due to the military rulers refusal to hold promised election this past February.  ECOWAS defied an order by The court of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) on Thursday to lift the sanctions.   Leaders from ECOWAS imposed regional sanctions in January on Mali after its ruling military junta said they would stay in power four more years instead of holding a previously promised election in February.  The sanctions included a trade embargo and border closures against the poverty-stricken nation in the Sahel region.  Mali’s assets at the Central Bank of West African States have also been frozen as part of the sanctions regime.  The crippling sanctions have contributed to massive government debt and job losses in Mali.  The action by UEMOA was seen as a big victory for the ruling military junta, which claimed the sanctions were illegal and unjustified and backed former colonial power France.  Many are of the opinion France pressured ECOWAS to maintain sanctions on Mali despite UEMOA’s order to end them. 

 “The Authority expresses deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in Mali. The Authority urges the Transition Authorities to step up efforts to enhance security in the country and reiterates its call on Member States and the Commission to accompany the efforts of the Transition Authorities in this regard. The Authority regrets the non-availability of the President of the Transition to physically honour the invitation extended to him to participate in the Summit in order to find a solution to the current situation in Mali. Furthermore, the Authority decides to uphold the sanction imposed on 9th January 2022.”

-ECOWAS joint statement March 25, 2022. 

ECOWAS said it will continue dialogue with a view to reaching an agreement to ensure a gradual lifting of the sanctions. 

In August 2020, army officers led by Colonel Assimi Goita  forced out the  elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

In August 2020, army officers led by Colonel Assimi Goita  forced out the  elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.  Facing international outrage and facing threat of sanctions, Goita subsequently promised to restore civilian rule in February 2022 after holding presidential and legislative elections. ECOWAS had steadfastly called for elections to be held in February. 

ECOWAS Meeting Chairmanship of HE. Nana Addo Dandwa Akufo-Adod, President of GHANA

The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of  ECOWAS convened an Extraordinary Session in Accra, Republic of Ghana Friday March 25 under the chairmanship of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority.  ECOWAS  also discussed the situations in other coup affected member states including Burkina Faso and Guinea. 

Present at the Summit were the under-listed ECOWAS Heads of State and

Government or their duly mandated representatives:

H.E. Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin;

H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of Ghana;

H.E. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau;

H.E. Mohamed BAZOUM, President of the Republic of Niger;

H.E. Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal;

H.E. Dr Isatou TOURAY, Vice-President of the Republic of The Gambia;

H.E. Yemi OSINBAJO, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

Mr. Rui Alberto De Figueiredo SOARES, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation

and Regional Integration of the Republic of Cabo Verde;

Mr. Fidele SARASSORO, Minister Director of Cabinet of the President of the

Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, representing the President of the Republic of Cote

d’Ivoire;

Mr. Simfeitcheou PRE, Minister and Special Advisor to the President of the

Republic of Togo, representing the President of the Republic of Togo;

H.E. Al Hassan CONTEH, Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to the Federal

Republic of Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, representing the

President of the Republic of Liberia;

H.E. Francess Virginia ANDERSON, High Commissioner of the Republic of

Sierra Leone to Ghana, representing the President of the Republic of Sierra

Leone

The Summit was also attended by:

H.E. Dr Goodluck Ebele JONATHAN, ECOWAS Mediator for Mali, former

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

● H.E. Jean-Claude Kassi BROU, President of the ECOWAS Commission;

● H.E. Abdoulaye DIOP, President of the UEMOA Commission;

● Mr El Ghassim WANE, Special Representative of the United Nations

Secretary-General in Mali and Head of MINUSMA;

● Dr James AJI, UNOWAS Liaison Officer to ECOWAS, representing Mr.

Mahamat Saleh ANNADIF, Special Representative of the United Nations

Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel.