[ad_1]
The ECOWAS summit comes after months of escalating tensions over the restoration of civilian rule in Mali following a military coup in 2020.
West African leaders have gathered to discuss the political crisis in Mali and the military government to offer a new moment of change to civilian rule at the last minute after his first request was rejected.
An extraordinary meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc on Sunday in the Ghanaian capital Accra is expected to discuss possible sanctions against the Sahel as a result of elections that could be delayed, among others.
The convention comes after a few months escalating conflicts during the restoration of civilian rule in Mali after the military coup in 2020.
In August of that year, military officials led by Colonel Assimi Goita removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from the streets in protest of his unpopular rule.
Threatened by sanctions, Goita promised to restore civilian rule in February 2022 after holding presidential and legal elections.
But he carried out a second attack last May, forcing the government to resign. The move disrupted the restructuring process, and many people criticized it.
ECOWAS demanded that Mali hold elections in February.
But the government said it would only set a date for the election after a national conference – saying a peaceful vote was more important than running.
A clear choice
The Malian Swathes are outside government control, with the government cracking down on terrorist attacks that have taken place since 2012.
On December 30, after a change conference in Mali, the government issued a proposal for a change between six months and five years, starting January 1st.
This will prompt government officials to “change their practices as well [organise] credible, fair and transparent elections ”, it said.
But ECOWAS mediator Goodluck Jonathan called on the leadership to review the plan last week, Mali’s foreign minister said.
On Saturday, the military government issued a new order to the acting president of the bloc, the state-run Malian state television said – without giving much of the content.
The 15-nation ECOWAS coalition has led to pressure Mali to implement its electoral rolls earlier this year.
Votes are expected in February
The return to civilian rule has put the bloc’s loyalty to the line as it seeks to adhere to the basic principles of governance and to maintain regional stability.
At the December 12 meeting, its leaders reiterated that elections would be held on February 27th if. planned first.
They imposed sanctions such as suspension of goods and restrictions on the ECOWAS region against 150 government soldiers or their families and threatened other “economic and financial” measures.
The possibility of new sanctions is expected to be discussed at Sunday’s meeting.
The West African Economic and Monetary Union summit will lead the ECOWAS talks in Accra, where eight of its members will meet to discuss issues and impose new economic sanctions.
Penalties have been effective in the past.
For example, the commission responded to Goita’s first plot by closing Mali’s borders, imposing trade sanctions, and suspending the country from its electoral bodies.
The Malian military has set up a civilian-led government in response and promised to hold elections that led to the abolition of economic sanctions, though. Money is still suspended from large bodies of bloc.
ECOWAS did not impose sanctions immediately after the second blowch, but in November it adopted a series of measures against the military itself because of delays in election preparations.
Investigators say regional leaders should consider the dangers of clashes between the people of Mali and ECOWAS.
Many politicians in the country have boycotted the recent negotiations, but the issue of national sovereignty has also affected some.
[ad_2]
Source link
