Mali expels ECOWAS representative over ‘misconduct’

The Malian government has expelled Hamidou Boly, a special representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), from its country.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Malian ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Boly was declared “persona non grata” and given 72 hours to leave the West African country.

Boly was reportedly invited to the ministry where he was “notified of the decision of the government” declaring him “persona non grata in view of his actions incompatible with his status”.

“This decision comes after several warnings addressed to the person concerned through his hierarchy,” the statement reads in part.

The decision was taken by the Malian authorities following a UN security council mission on October 23 and 24 to assess the country’s political situation, after being urged by ECOWAS to respect the deadline of 18 months of transition.

The deadline for transition is expected to also make room for Mali to organise the first round of legislative and presidential elections scheduled to hold on February 27, 2022.

Nana Akuffo-Addo of Ghana, ECOWAS president-in-office, had earlier made an official visit to Bamako on October 17 to discuss with the Malian authorities on the “evolution” of the transition.

Following the first coup that overthrew President Ibrahim Keita in August 2020, a political transition — which would take 18 months — had been underway in the West African country since September 15.

Bah N’Daw, Mali’s former defence minister, was named as president of the country’s new transitional government, while Assimi Goita, leader of the military junta that ousted the former president, was named vice-president.

N’Daw and Goita were appointed to oversee an 18-month transition that will culminate in fresh elections.

The transitional government was meant to lead the country for several months before staging elections and returning Mali to civilian rule.

But in June, there was another coup, led by Goita, who accused the interim president and the then Prime Minister Moctar Ouane of trying to sabotage the country’s transition.

The accused were detained at a military base in the wake of the coup and later removed from office.

Two days after seizing power from N’Daw, Goita declared himself president of the country.

In recent weeks, the transitional government has called for the postponement of the first rounds of presidential and legislative elections, thereby extending the deadline for the transition period.