West African leaders impose tough sanctions on military junta in Mali
The leaders of West African countries have rejected the transition announced by the military government in Mali and equally impose tough sanctions on the country, which include closure of all land and air borders with the country.
Penpushing reports that, Heads of State and Government made the declaration at a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Accra on Sunday and also announced recall of Ambassadors as well as freezing of all Malian assets in West African countries.
The Nigerian Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo who represented President Muhammad Buhari at the summit made this known in a statement made available by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, adding that, with its latest stand against unconstitutional seizure of power, leaders of member states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have shown strong resolve and commitment to issues of good governance and democracy in the sub-region.
‘At the Summit on Sunday, ECOWAS agreed to impose additional sanctions on the military junta in Mali, withdraw all ECOWAS Ambassadors in the country, and also close land and air borders between ECOWAS Member States and Mali’, he said.
Penpushing further reports that, the Vice President emphasized that, that there is a strong resolve by Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) Member States to stand against coup d’états in the sub-region.
“What is being done is unprecedented. In the years gone by, the African Union, then known as OAU and ECOWAS, never came down heavily on Coups de’tats; but there is evidence now that there is a very strong resolve that ECOWAS and, indeed, AU and the international community will not accept unconstitutional takeover of government”, Osinbajo stated
‘It’s very evident that there is very strong resolve, which is why we are here today. We expect that the actions that will be taken will point the junta in Mali in the right direction. I think ECOWAS has shown that it has not lost its bite where there are concerns about issues of good governance and democratic enterprises in the sub-region, which is why sanctions against Guinea and Mali were imposed”, he added
‘After reviewing the situation in Mali at the Extraordinary Summit, the sub-regional leaders rejected the transition schedule proposed by the Malian military junta, noting that the proposed chronogram for a transition is totally unacceptable”, the statement reads.
‘The body also imposed additional sanctions on the junta, including the following: Withdrawal of all ECOWAS Ambassadors in Mali; Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Mali; 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 products, and electricity’
‘Freeze of assets of the Republic of Mali in ECOWAS Central Banks; Freeze of assets of the Malian State and the State Enterprises and Parastatals in Commercial Banks, Suspension of Mali from all financial assistance and transactions from financial institutions.
Penpushing also reports that, the communique added that the authority of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government instructs all Community institutions to take steps to implement these sanctions with immediate effect.
The West African leadership noted that the sanctions will only be gradually lifted after an acceptable and agreed transition chronogram is finalised and monitored-satisfactory progress is realised in the implementation of the chronogram for the elections.
Penpushing reports that, the communiqué in regards Guinea, noted that the Economic Community and West African States(ECOWAS) remained concerned about the slow progress of the transition process four months after the coup.
‘The Authority regrets the absence of chronogram for the election and the non-setting up of the National Council of Transition (CNT). It also directs that a mission be fielded to Conakry to discuss the transition”, the communiqué reads
The Chairman of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, in his remarks at the opening ceremony session of the summit praised the commitment and support of West African leaders to the progress and prosperity of the sub-region.
“As you did through the entire year of 2021, you continue to demonstrate your commitment to responding to urgent and critical evolving situations in the region. This is the 6th Extraordinary Summit since I assumed the chair of the Authority that Your Excellencies have participated in concerning the vexed issues of Mali and Guinea. It is a strong testimony to your leadership and concern to the progress of ECOWAS”, Akufo-Addo said
Penpushing reports that, other West African leaders present at the Summit were Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal; George Weah of Liberia; Patrice Talon of Benin Republic; Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of Burkina Faso, and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire.
They also include Umaro Embalò of the Republic of Guinea Bissau; Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic; Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, and the Vice President of The Gambia, Isatou Touray.
Penpushing further reports that, also in attendance were former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) Mediator for Mali; the President of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou; among other representatives of international organisations.
Meanwhile, the military junta, it is recalled took over the country through a coup last year, announced a five-year transition plan that would see the junta be in power for at least five years.
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