The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday announced it has renewed the travel ban and asset freeze imposed on individuals and entities obstructing implementation of Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in coup-hit Mali, until August 31, 2023, reported The Business Standard.
The 15-member Council unanimously adopted resolution 2649 and also extended until September 30, 2023, the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring implementation of the sanctions. It also requested the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali to assist the experts panel.
“The situation in Mali continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,” the UNSC said on Tuesday in the resolution.
The Council requested the experts panel to provide a midterm report by February 28, 2023, a final report by August 15, 2023, and periodic updates in between.
Mali was hit by two coups, in August 2020 and in May 2021. Since January, Mali has been slapped with a series of economic and diplomatic sanctions from the UNSC and West African states to punish the military junta’s bid to stay in power for several more years.
Last month, the West African bloc ECOWAS has lifted economic and financial sanctions against Mali’s military government after it vowed to hold elections in February 2024.
Mali is governed by a military junta that came to power in a 2020 coup and has promised to organize democratic elections in 2024. The junta named Maiga, a former opposition leader, as prime minister of the transitional government it leads in June last year.
Mali’s military government has been criticized for its military cooperation with Russian mercenaries and repeated delays to elections.
Earlier this month, France also pulled its forces from Mali. The force had been operating in Mali for the last nine years in order to support the local army counter active terrorist groups.
