Mali: ECOWAS demands that elections be held in February and threatens new sanctions
Photo of the count of the Malian presidential election of August 18, 2018 in Bamako.
AP - Annie Risemberg
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Gathered this Sunday, December 12 at an ordinary summit in Abuja, Nigeria, the heads of state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on the situation in Mali, unanimously demanded the maintenance elections for February 27th.
The sub-regional organization threatens to pronounce on new sanctions in January 2022 if the situation does not evolve.
These conclusions were eagerly awaited in Bamako and are causing political parties to react.
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Sunday, December 12,
the ECOWAS
, which suspended Mali from its authorities, continues to maintain pressure on the country, without however pronouncing a new sanction regime. A decision that is pragmatism for Jeanmille Bittar, spokesperson for the Movement of June 5-Rally of Patriotic Forces (M5-RFP) and close to the current authorities.
"
The authorities and ECOWAS know that from January, they will have a timetable,
" he
explained
to
Kaourou Magassa
, our correspondent in Bamako
.
And if they decide to toughen up in January, it could go to the scrapyard.
It's like in Guinea, we are in a process of reconstruction.
If this ECOWAS wants to help Mali, we must step up efforts to restore security.
"
"To initiate the return to a constitutional order"
The M5-RPF advocates an extension of the transition.
Conversely, Amadou Koïta, president of the Socialist Party and member of the regrouping of political parties for a successful transition, calls for the respect of the country's commitments and the elections in February.
He "
asks the president of the transition to do everything possible not to worsen the current situation and to start the return to a constitutional order
".
For Amadou Koïta, the country is
already sanctioned by the gravity of the security crisis and the resulting number of victims
: “
If other sanctions are added, the country will be in an apocalyptic situation.
"
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Mali
ECOWAS
Nigeria