ECOWAS toughens position towards member states with military rulers

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on Friday, 25 March, that it would grant Mali between 12 and 16 months to arrange elections and threatened Guinea and Burkina Faso with additional punitive sanctions.

The 15-nation ECOWAS maintained the sanctions imposed on Mali on 9 January 2022, after the military junta declared its intention to remain in power until 2025, thus abandoning plans to hold elections scheduled by the end of February 2022. West Africa's main political and economic bloc called on Mali's transitional military authorities to follow the recommended 12–16-month transition period leading to the return of a civilian government.

ECOWAS chairman, Jean Claude Kassi Brou, also urged the Burkinabe military junta to shorten its proposed 36-month transition to a "more acceptable timeframe". Further sanctions would be adopted if Burkina Faso did not release former President Roch Marc Kaboré by 31 March 2022.

The regional organisation specified in its communiqué that in case of non-compliance with its demands, members of the transitional authorities of Burkina Faso will be subject to "individual sanctions".

As for Guinea, where the military has been governing since a military coup in September 2021, ECOWAS has expressed concern about the duration of the transition as the six-month timetable for the holding of elections has not yet been honoured.

The financial assets of members of the Guinean junta and their family members had already been frozen following the removal of President Alpha Conde from office last September. Jean Claude Kassi Brou warned of the possibility of severe sanctions if Guinea misses its April 25 deadline.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea are all in the throes of political and security crises and have all witnessed military coups since August 2020. ECOWAS is therefore currently trying to put pressure on the military juntas to bring power back into civilian hands.

Since January 2022, the toll of economic sanctions on Mali's economy and employment has been so severe that the country has been unable to pay about $180 million in debt repayments. Sanctions on Mali have been maintained despite Thursday's ruling by the Court of Justice of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), demanding the suspension of sanctions on Thursday, 24 January.

The potential impact of these sanctions on poor, landlocked countries has caused great concern, but also widespread resentment, beyond Mali, against regional organisations.

Sources: CommonSpace.eu with Reuters (London), France 24 (Paris) and other media outlets
Picture: ECOWAS chair delivering final statetment on Friday 25 March; Twitter: @ADFmagazine

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.