The Economic Community of West African States “ECOWAS” imposes “gradual” diplomatic, economic and financial sanctions targeting individuals and members of the transitional government institutions in Guinea.
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ECOWAS imposes diplomatic and economic sanctions on Guinea
The Economic Community of West African States “ECOWAS” announced the imposition of “gradual” diplomatic, economic and financial sanctions on Guinea, and gave Conakry a month to determine an “acceptable transitional period, under penalty of heavier sanctions.”
A statement by the group following an extraordinary meeting held yesterday in New York on the sidelines of the session of the United Nations General Assembly: “The group decided to impose gradual diplomatic, economic and financial sanctions on Guinea, and requests the country’s authorities to apply within one month, starting from September 22, 2022.” A reasonable and acceptable transition period, under penalty of heavier penalties.
The statement indicated that “the sanctions imposed target individuals and institutions of the transitional government in Guinea and any other person who seeks to prevent a return to the constitutional order in the country within a reasonable period of time,” adding that “the sanctions include the freezing of financial assets and a travel ban.”
A military-dominated government headed by Colonel Mamady Domboya has been in power in Guinea since September 2021, following the ouster of former president Alpha Conde. And following the coup ECOWAS suspended Guinea’s membership in the group.
The country is located in West Africa Violent clashes Between security forces and demonstrators protesting the military council’s plans to hand power to civilians within three years.
ECOWAS calls on Mali to release its Ivorian soldiers
On the other hand, in the context of the case Ivory Coast soldiers detained in Mali On charges of “attempting to undermine state security”, ECOWAS called on the Malian transitional government to immediately and unconditionally release the detainees, denouncing the “blackmail practiced by the Malian authorities in this case”.
And the transitional authorities in Mali had warned last week that the Ivory Coast authorities would use the Economic Community of West African States to absolve themselves of responsibility in the case of its detained soldiers, following Côte d’Ivoire accused Mali of holding its soldiers hostage, and called for an extraordinary session of the ECOWAS group.
And the authorities in Mali announced, last July, that they had detained 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast upon their arrival at Bamako airport, noting that they would treat them as “mercenaries.”
A spokesman for the transitional government, Abdallah Maiga, said in a statement, “It was found that the 49 Ivorian soldiers had arrived in Mali illegally (…) in possession of weapons and ammunition, without a mission order or license.”