Mali’s transitional government on Wednesday said it has created working groups with members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, and the United Nations to work toward a return to constitutional order, reported Reuters.
“As part of the ongoing dialogue with ECOWAS, the African Union, and the international community regarding the conduct of the transition, the government of Mali has set up a consultation mechanism to support this dynamic,” Mali’s government said in a statement. “The purpose of this mechanism is to seek a solution reconciling the aspirations of the Malian people and the demands of the international community, in particular through the adoption of a consensual timetable.”
As per the statement, the consultation talks will be held within a dialogue group at the ministerial level and a larger working group, both of which will include members of the ECOWAS, the AU, and UN.
The statement follows a number of sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS after Mali’s military junta proposed extending its rule until 2025.
In August 2020, the Malian military led by Colonel Assimi Goita oust President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from power following mass anti-government protests. The military leader had initially vowed to restore civilian rule in February 2022 presidential and legislative elections. But he staged another coup in May last year that removed an interim civilian government from power, disrupting the reform timetable. The move received widespread diplomatic condemnation.
While the ECOWAS continues to insist on February elections, Mali’s ruling military body had presented a proposal in December to stay in power for up to five years before holding elections in the country.
Meanwhile, on Monday Mali’s ruling junta made an appeal to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) to remove sanctions that will have severe consequences for the population. The UEMOA has eight member countries including Mali.
