Izuchukwu Okosi
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Mali is set to be hit with stringent economic sanctions and closed borders from West Africa’s regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after delays in holding elections following a military coup in 2020, the organisation said on Sunday.
ECOWAS’ hard stance is because of Mali’s peace accord with the organisation which necessitated an assurance that the election would hold in February but the interim government are now said to be foot dragging on holding an election and rather proposing that it holds in 2025.
Nigeria in particular has been on the forefront of peace keeping missions in Mali with former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan heading delegations to the troubled country on several occasions.
In a communique issued after an emergency summit in the Ghanaian capital Accra, ECOWAS said it found the proposed timetable for a transition back to constitutional rule totally unacceptable.
This schedule “simply means that an illegitimate military transition Government will take the Malian people hostage,” it said.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
