MALI: ECOWAS INSISTS CNSP MILITARY JUNTA RETURN POWER TO A CIVILIAN-LED TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT, MAINTAINS IMPOSED SANCTIONS
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has insisted that the soldiers who took over power in Mali must hand over to a civilian-led transitional government who should hold elections in a year.
The 15-member states of the West Africa bloc decided to maintain its imposed sanctions on Mali at an Extraordinary Summit held on Friday, August 28.
Recall that ECOWAS suspended Mali from its organisation, and ordered member states to shut their borders against the country, stifling economic and financial transactions after the military ousted former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from power on August 18.
Leaders of ECOWAS held a virtual extraordinary summit on Friday, August 28.
The Chairman of ECOWAS, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, said the civilian placed as transitional president and prime minister would not be permitted to run in the upcoming election which must hold in the next 12 months.
READ ALSO: MALI COUP: THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE SECURING THE COUNTRY FROM TERRORISTS
The ball is now in the court of the CNSP military junta. The putschists had earlier expressed their interest to rule for 3 years during a meeting with the ECOWAS delegation in Mali. They later agreed to a run the country for 2 years before handing power back to civilians.
The soldiers claimed they took over power due to the high level of insecurity and corruption in the country under the leadership of Keita.
Recall that the CNSP military junta announced on Thursday that they had released former president Keita who was arrested along with other top politicians on August 18, following the coup.
Consequent on actions taken by the CNSP military junta, ECOWAS would review its decision on sanctions imposed in Mali at its next summit scheduled to hold on September 7 in Niamey, Niger.
READ ALSO: MALI COUP: ECOWAS SUSPENDS MALI, ASKS MEMBERS TO CLOSE ALL BORDERS TO THE COUNTRY
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