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The Malian junta responded to the ECOWAS sanctions on Monday by demanding the return of its ambassadors stationed in neighboring countries. Mali has also announced the closure of its land and air borders with the ECOWAS states.
Tension rises between the Mali and the ECOWAS countries. The Malian government announced, Monday, January 10, the recall of its ambassadors in West Africa and the closure of its borders with its neighbors of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in reaction to his embargoed by West African leaders gathered the day before in Accra.
“The government of Mali strongly condemns these illegal and illegitimate sanctions” and recalls its ambassadors in the countries of the ECOWAS, says a statement read on national television by the government spokesperson, in uniform, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga.
“The government of Mali regrets that West African sub-regional organizations are being exploited by extra-regional powers with ulterior motives,” he added, without naming them.
The junta also announces to close its land and air borders with the countries of the ECOWAS.
For its part, the airline Air France confirmed that it will not be able to provide service from Bamako to Mali on Monday, “due to regional geopolitical tensions linked to an embargo decided by the member countries of the ECOWAS”.
Freezing of financial aid and assets
The ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (Uémoa) on Sunday took a battery of vigorous economic and diplomatic measures against Mali to sanction the junta’s intention to remain in power for several more years. .
These measures are the consequence, in particular, of the broken promise of the colonels to organize on February 27 presidential and legislative elections which would have brought back civilians to the head of the country.
The ECOWAS, which maintains trade in basic necessities, has also decided to cut its financial aid and freeze Mali’s assets at the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
Member countries will recall their ambassadors to Mali, the scene of two military coups since 2020 and in the grip of a deep security crisis.
These sanctions take effect immediately, they said. They will only be gradually lifted when the Malian authorities present an “acceptable” timetable and satisfactory progress is observed in its implementation.
With AFP
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