Published on : 04/06/2022 – 20:53
West African heads of state met for a summit in Accra, Ghana, this Saturday. ECOWAS looked at the transitions in force in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Three countries ruled by military juntas since coups. Finally, no easing or tightening of sanctions during this summit.
With our special correspondent in Accra, Pierre Pinto
The Heads of State have decided to postpone their decision until July 3, the next ordinary ECOWAS summit. So far, an easing of sanctions against Mali and a possible hardening of positions against Guinea were expected.
But this Saturday, the closed session was quite long, a sign of possible disagreements. According to several sources, the member countries were divided into two camps. On the one hand, the partisans of a firm line on Mali including in particular Niger, Ghana and Nigeria. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is, a rare thing, come in person to this ECOWAS summit in Accra. And opposite, there were Member States in favor of an easing of sanctions which also have an impact on their economy, in particular.
Disagreements or more time left to the juntas?
Did these two blocks fail to tip the balance one way or the other? Or did the heads of state decide to give the juntas more time to clarify their positions? Maybe a bit of both.
In any case, the UEMOA summit which followed that of ECOWAS turned into a great oral for the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Albert Ouedraogo and for the Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdoulaye Diop who were able to speak to the Heads of State of this organization.