Adodo Osewengie
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday has issued a communiqué after an Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana.
The ECOWAS resolved in the meeting to close land and air borders between member countries and Mali and also withdraw all its ambassadors from Mali.
After careful review of the political issues in Mali by the ECOWAS in Accra, a resolution was reached to withdraw all supports and ties all member-states have with Mali.
In a communiqué issued, the ECOWAS noted that the proposal by the Malian military junta on the scheduled transition is unacceptable and was outrightly rejected by the regional leaders.
However, the ECOWAS after the review imposed further sanctions on the country of Mali.
“Withdrawal of all ECOWAS Ambassadors in Mali; closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Mali.
“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between the ECOWAS Member States and Mali, except for the following products: essential consumer goods; pharmaceutical products; medical supplies and equipment, including materials for the control of COVID-19 products, and electricity.
“Freeze of assets of the Republic of Mali in ECOWAS Central Banks; freeze of assets of the Malian state and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial Banks.
“Suspension of Mali from all financial assistance and transactions from financial institutions”, it stated.
However, in Guinea, ECOWAS noted that they are monitoring the slow progress of the transition process four months after the coup.
According to the communiqué, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government directed all community institutions to take the necessary steps to implement the sanctions with immediate effect.
ECOWAS added that after an acceptable and agreeable transition is reached with Mali, the sanctions will be reduced gradually having satisfactorily kept to the terms of the agreement.
“The Authority regrets the absence of chronogram for the election and the non-setting up of the National Council of Transition (CNT).
“It also directs that a mission be fielded to Conakry to discuss the transition”, the communiqué said. Chairman of ECOWAS and President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, stated he was happy with the commitment and support of West African leaders to the progress and prosperity of the sub-region earlier in his remark.
“As you did through the entire year of 2021, you continue to demonstrate your commitment to responding to urgent and critical evolving situations in the region.
“This is the 6th Extraordinary Summit since I assumed the chair of the authority that Your Excellencies have participated in concerning the vexed issues of Mali and Guinea.
“It is a strong testimony to your leadership and concern for the progress of ECOWAS,” he said. Other West African leaders aside Osinbajo and Akufo-Addo present at the summit were President Macky Sall of Senegal, President George Weah of Liberia, President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic, President Christian Kaboré of Burkina Faso, and President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire.
Heads of State present included Umaro Embalò of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, and the Vice President of Gambia, Isatou Touray.
The ECOWAS Mediator for Mali, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, who is the President of the ECOWAS Commission, and representatives of international organisations.
