By Abdul Malik Bangura
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) has late yesterday 18th August 2020 published a communique on the military takeover in Mali. Mali is one of 15 (fifteen) members of the regional organization.
Key amongst the decisions taken so far by the regional body are: the suspension of Mali from all decision making bodies of ECOWAS as well as placing and Economic and Financial embargo on them.
ECOWAS has also urged member states to close all land and air borders with massive landlock Mali and as well calls for immediate implementation of sanctions against all military officers, their partners and collaborators who participated in yesterday’s military takeover until Constitutional order is restored.
The regional body also says it is dispatching a high-level delegation to Mali to ensure the return of Constitutional order.
Furthermore, other international bodies and governments have all condemned the military takeover yesterday in Mali.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres demanded the “unconditional release” of Mali’s leaders and the “immediate restoration of constitutional order”.
The chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he “emphatically condemns” the arrests of President Keïta and his prime minister.
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron “condemned the attempted mutiny under way” and his Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian urged the soldiers to return to barracks.
“The United States opposes any extra-constitutional change of government, whether by those on the streets or by the defense and security forces,” tweeted Peter Pham, the U.S. special envoy to the Sahel.
Meanwhile, Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned late last night, hours after mutinying soldiers seized him from his home following months of mass protests against alleged corruption and worsening security in the West African country.
Speaking on national broadcaster ORTM just before midnight, Al Jazeera says a distressed Keita said his resignation – three years before his final term was due to end – was effective immediately. He also declared the dissolution of his government and the Malian National Assembly.
