ECOWAS lifts sanctions on Mali

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted the ban it placed on Mali following the military coup that ousted President Ibrahim Keita.

ECOWAS had suspended Mali from the organisation and asked all its members to close land and air borders to the country.

It had said the sanctions would be lifted when the transition president and the prime minister are effectively designated.

Ba N’Daou, Mali’s former defence minister, was named as president of the country’s new transitional government in September.

In a statement on Tuesday, ECOWAS said the heads of state decided to lift the sanctions imposed on Mali after taking into consideration the decisions for the “normalisation of constitutional order” and the need to support the handover process.

“The Heads of States and Government took note of the recent nomination and swearing-in of Mr. Bah N’DAW as a civilian President of the Transition. They congratulate the President of the Transition and express ECOWAS Support for the implementation of his mission,” it said.

“The Heads of State and Government also took note of the nomination of Mr. Moctar Ouane, a civilian, as Prime Minister of the Transition.

“The nomination of the President and the Prime Minister of the Transition should lead to the formation of the government.

“In addition, the Charter of the Transition published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Mali taking into account other Decisions of the Heads of State and Government was received by ECOWAS on October 1 st, 2020.

“These include the responsibility of the Vice-President of the Transition, in charge of security and defense.

“The removal of the provision whereby the Vice-President can replace the President of the Transition. The provision of an 18-months Transition period.

“Taking into consideration these important decisions for the normalization of constitutional order in Mali and in view of the need to support this process, the Heads of State and Government decide to lift the sanctions imposed on Mali. They call on all bilateral and multilateral partner to also support Mali

“The Heads of State and Government demand that the new Authorities of the Transition in Mali implement rapidly other decisions of the Summit, in particular the release of all officials both military and civilian arrested since 18 August 2020 and the dissolution of the CNSP.”