The Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions on more than 150 members of Mali’s transitional government including the interim Prime Minister Choguel Maiga, reported Africa News.
The West African bloc has frozen the financial assets of all those on the list that including 121 members of the National Transitional Council and have banned them from traveling within ECOWAS. The sanctions also apply to their family members. The list also includes 27 ministers of the transitional government.
The transitional president and head of the junta since the first coup, Colonel Assimi Goita, and Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop does not feature in the ECOWAS list.
According to several sources, Goïta and Diop were left out to allow the transitional authorities to be present at future meetings of the West African body and thus maintain dialogue between the two parties.
The sanctions come after coups in August 2020 and May 2021 and doubts over whether the new regime will be able to conduct elections by February 27, 2022.
The ECOWAS has been creating pressure on Mali’s transitional government, demanding they stick to an agreement that calls for holding presidential and legislative elections in the country in February next year.
It had warned of sanctions on those it said were interrupting efforts for a return to constitutional rule. The bloc is likely to consider additional sanctions in December if no progress is made.
In May, Mali junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita staged another coup, deposing a transitional administration in which he was vice president. He has vowed to stick to the 18-month transition schedule but his government has been accused of downplaying efforts to achieve civilian rule.
Last month, the West African country expelled the regional bloc’s special envoy to Bamako accusing him of actions incompatible with his status.
