ECOWAS lifts part of its sanctions against Mali, Guinea suspended

ECOWAS met at a summit this Sunday, July 3 in Accra, Ghana.

AFP - NIPAH DENNIS

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

The 61st ECOWAS summit ended this Sunday, July 3 in Accra, Ghana.

The West African organization has looked into its retaliatory measures against Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea after juntas seized power. 

Advertising

Read more

With our special correspondent in Accra,

The ECOWAS Heads of State considered that the progress made by Mali in recent weeks justifies a partial lifting of the sanctions.

Bamako notably adopted a new electoral law and announced the return to constitutional order for March 2024. 

These sanctions included the closure of borders, the freezing of Malian assets and the suspension of commercial and financial exchanges.

All of this can resume.

The ECOWAS ambassadors who were stationed in Bamako and who had been recalled will also be able to return to the Malian capital.

The financial sanctions that target the leaders of the junta are however maintained.

Mali also remains suspended from ECOWAS authorities.

The decisions taken this Sunday by the regional organization, with immediate effect, nevertheless constitute a very important step forward.

Burkina Faso escapes sanctions

Regarding Burkina Faso, ECOWAS has decided to lift the threat of sanctions that has weighed on the country since last March.

Sanctions had been adopted, but never applied.

The regional organization takes into account the report of the mediator, the former Nigerien president Mahamadou Issoufou, who reported two important advances: the two years of transition proposed by the Burkinabè authorities, instead of the three years initially announced, i.e. a return civilians in power on July 1, 2024;

freedom of movement granted to ex-president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

Like Mali, Burkina Faso nevertheless remains suspended from the bodies of the West African organization.

Guinea also escapes sanctions.

At least for the moment.

He was granted a one-month reprieve due to the appointment of a new mediator, in this case former Beninese President Yayi Boni.

In particular, he will have to obtain a reduction in the transition period proposed by Conakry. 

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_EN

• ECOWAS

• mali

• Burkina Faso

• Guinea