The Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) has suspended Mali from the regional bloc following last week’s coup, making it the second military coup in Nine months in the country. The decision was reached during the ECOWAS emergency summit in Accra, Ghana on Sunday, with leaders of the 15-member state present. Speaking after the meeting, Ghana’s foreign minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said the suspension was in a bid to ensure democracy returns to Mali.
“The suspension from ECOWAS takes immediate effect until the deadline of the end of February 2022 when they are supposed to hand over to a democratically elected government,” Botchwey said.
“One of the decisions of the heads of state is that they should ensure that in the next few days a civilian prime minister is put in place to form the next government.”
The suspension did not impose new sanctions on the country and also did not call for the interim president, Assimi Goita to step down.
However, ECOWAS said the head of the transition government, vice president and prime minister should not be candidates of the planned presidential election.
“The date of 27th February 2022 already announced for the presidential election should be absolutely maintained,” the regional bloc said.
Vigil360 reports that Bah N’Daw the interim President who was named in September, and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane were arrested and detained in a military base last week, where they both tendered their resignation before being released on house arrest.
