Meeting on Friday, March 25, 2022 in Accra, Ghana, the heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) maintained sanctions against Mali because of delays in the process of returning to democratic order. At the same time, the sub-regional organization gave an ultimatum to Guinea and Burkina Faso in the process of liberation from power.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) does not seem to be backing down from its desire to return power to civilians and restore the sovereignty of West African states. Indeed, it has decided to maintain sanctions against Mali and to prepare punishments for other countries in the sub-region governed by force. Thus, ECOWAS is calling on the Malian transitional authorities to adhere to the recommended 12 to 16 month transition timetable before civilians return to power. Similarly, sanctions could rain down on Guinea if it does not present an “acceptable timetable for the transition” by the end of April 2022, and on Burkina Faso if it does not release former president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré by March 31, 2022.
These ultimatums were unanimously validated by the heads of state of the sub-region, and so all eyes are currently on Bamako, Conakry and Ouagadougou.
Mali and the extension of sanctions
Since January 9, ECOWAS had ordered the closure of borders with Mali within the sub-regional area and the suspension of trade other than in basic necessities. This came after the junta declared its intention to stay in power for several years, announcing that it would not hold elections at the end of February as originally planned. ECOWAS has so far called for elections to be held within 12 to 16 months in Mali.
During Goodluck Jonathan’s March 18-20 visit to the Malian capital, the junta indicated that it had reduced from four to two years the length of time it deemed necessary to run the country before handing over power to civilians. The sub-regional organization is still on course despite the order of the court of justice of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) requiring the suspension of sanctions. With the month of Ramadan just days away, Mali will still have to wait for the lifting of the embargo. The Malian junta seems to be holding firm in the face of ECOWAS sanctions.
Guinea Conakry and Burkina Faso in the crosshairs of the sub-regional organization
In Guinea, where the military seized power in September 2021, ECOWAS expressed “serious concerns” about the duration of the transition, noting that “the six-month timetable for holding elections has not been respected. As for Burkina Faso, the military has been ordered to release former president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré “unconditionally and without delay. Like Guinea, ECOWAS is giving the Burkinabe junta until April 25, 2022 to present an “acceptable transition timetable. Thus, the refusal to comply can lead to economic and financial sanctions on these countries. The potential impact of these sanctions on a poor, landlocked country like Mali has caused great concern, but also widespread resentment, beyond Mali, against regional organizations.
