Reacting to the political chaos currently
ongoing in one of the West Africa
countries, the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) has
suspended Mali from all its decision-
making bodies with immediate effect.
A statement by the community’s
Directorate of Communications on
Wednesday indicated that the suspension
is in line with the ECOWAS Protocol on
Democracy and Good Governance and
would remain in place until effective
constitutional order is reinstated in the
country.
Officially the Republic of Mali, the country
has been struggling to maintain stability
since tens of thousands of opposition
supporters accused President Ibrahim Keita
of gross intimidation and vote-buying
during a parliamentary election in April,
which gave his administration a firm majority.
Soldiers had started mutiny early Tuesday
in the garrison town of Kati, 15 kilometres
north-west of Bamako, which resulted to
the arrest of Keita and Prime Minister
Boubou Cisse, and subsequently to the
resignation of Keita from office early
Wednesday.
Reacting, ECOWAS said it had also closed
all of the country’s land and air borders,
stopped all economic, trade, and financial
flows and transactions between ECOWAS
member states and the country, urging all
partners to do same.
The sub-regional body has strongly
condemned the mutiny among soldiers
which was followed by the arrest of
President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita and
called for his immediate released.
“Following its statement published on Aug.
18, reporting on an on-going mutiny within
the Malian Armed Forces, ECOWAS has
noted with great concern the seizure of
power by Malian military putschists.
“This seizure of power intervenes within a
difficult socio-political context.
“Indeed, ECOWAS recalls that a mediation
process has been on-going during the past
two months, with a view to finding a
solution to this crisis.
“Following this power grab by Malian
military putschists, which is likely to have a
negative impact on peace and stability in
Mali and in sub- region, ECOWAS utterly
condemns the overthrowing of President
Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita’s democratically
elected government,” the community said in the statement.
It said that ECOWAS “categorically denies
any kind of legitimacy to the putschists and
demands the immediate reinstatement of
the constitutional order.
“Reminds the military of their accountability
for the safety and security of President
Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita and officials arrested.
“Suspends Mali from all ECOWAS decision-
making bodies with immediate effect, as
per the Additional Protocol on Democracy
and Good Governance, and this, until
effective reinstatement of the constitutional
order.
“Decides to close all land and air borders,
as well as to stop all economical, trade and
financial flows and transactions between
ECOWAS member states and Mali, and
encourages all partners to do the same.
“Requests the immediate activation of the
ECOWAS Standby Force, and demands the
immediate implementation of sanctions
against all putschists as well as their
partners and collaborators.”
It added that in a bid to salvage the
situation, the ECOWAS body has decides to
dispatch a high-level delegation to ensure
the country’s immediate return to
constitutional order.
US condemns Mali ‘mutiny’, calls for
‘freedom’ of detained leaders
Meanwhile US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on
Wednesday condemned what he called a
“mutiny” in Mali and called for the freedom of
the West African country’s detained leaders to be ensured.
“The United States strongly condemns the
August 18 mutiny in Mali as we would
condemn any forcible seizure of power,”
Pompeo said in a statement.
“The freedom and safety of detained
government officials and their families must
be ensured.”
Pompeo said the US “calls on all political and
military actors to work towards a restoration
of constitutional government,” engage in
dialogue and “reject violence.”
The US calls echo similar statement from the
European Union and the African Union.
