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On Sunday, the ECOWAS, expected in Ghana, must examine the calendar, submitted by Bamako, which plans to extend the transition period in Mali to 5 years. This question is the subject of a standoff with heavy stakes between the country’s authorities and the West African organization.
A decisive meeting for the future of Mali ? Expected in Accra, Sunday, January 9, the West African Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) must decide on the calendar, supposed to lead to elections, that they have submitted to the Malian authorities. The latter wish to be able to maintain the transition up to five years from January 1, 2022.
The ECOWAS had obtained from the authorities, resulting from the putsch of August 2020, the commitment that they would return power to elected civilians following 18 months. But the new government, which came in favor of a second military coup in May 2021, has since claimed not to be in a position to honor this commitment.
He highlights the deterioration of the security crisis, especially in the center of the country which has seen an increase in jihadist attacks for several years. The leaders of the ECOWAS will have to decide on Sunday on the response to a calendar that may extend until the end of 2026.
“It is regarding the future of the current regime which has affirmed its determination not to respect the injunctions from the international community”Analyzes Niagalé Bagayoko, researcher, president of the African Security Sector Network (ASSN), interviewed on France 24.“ The question is whether ECOWAS has the means to impose its decisions on Mali ”.
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Transitional authorities already targeted by sanctions
At a previous summit on December 12, West African leaders called for elections to be held on the originally scheduled date of February 27 this year. They had maintained the sanctions imposed on around 150 personalities (freezing of financial assets, travel ban within ECOWAS) and their families.
“The members of the transitional authorities were previously unknown to the general public. For the most part, they are not personalities who have personal financial interests outside Mali” explained Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, director of the Center for Research of Political Analysis , economic and social of Mali (Crapes), at the time of the announcement of these sanctions.
“This measure is insufficient to bend the authorities. But it is part of a process of gradual sanctions set up by ECOWAS to advance negotiations.”
The return of the economic embargo?
This Sunday, the ECOWAS, which threatened Mali with additional “economic and financial” sanctions, might decide to impose an economic embargo, as was the case following the coup d’état of August 18, 2020.
This measure included the closure of land and air borders, the interruption of financial transactions as well as trade, with the exception of basic foodstuffs.
Under pressure, the military then announced, two months later, the creation of a transitional government and ECOWAS had agreed to lift this measure. However, the embargo had a heavy impact on the country’s economy and aroused strong criticism from civil society.
ECOWAS accused of defending its interests
“The stake of Sunday’s summit is absolutely crucial both for Mali and for ECOWAS itself” underlines Niagalé Bagayoko. “The organization plays there, both its credibility and its legitimacy in a context where its decisions are extremely contested by the Malian populations, who consider, in particular, that the organization defends the interests of heads of state more than those of the people, in violation of their commitments ”.
In Mali, some accuse the organization of practicing “double standards”, by adopting firm positions once morest military coups, but showing themselves much less critical vis-à-vis the authoritarian abuses of elected presidents who cling to power. A position put forward in particular by the support of the Malian government, which assimilates the actions of the West African organization to an attempt to interfere in the affairs of the country.
The transitional authorities have come under attack from several opposition parties, who believe that the extension of the transition is only a tactic to stay in power.
With AFP
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