Panafrican News Agency

Former Malian presidential parties regret ECOWAS' sanctions

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - An umbrella group composed mainly of parties of the former presidential movement in Mali has expressed regret at the economic, financial and other sanctions slapped against the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for floutng a programme to hold elections next month.

The Exchange Framework of Political Parties and Groupings of Parties for a Successful Transition in Mali said the people do not deserve sanctions from regional and sub-regional organisations of which it is a full member, including the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and ECOWAS.

It said in a statement that the people are in no way responsible for the situation that has befallen the country and the deterioration of relations with partners in the sub-region.

For the grouping, these sanctions are the result of a lack of political will on the part of the authorities to respect their commitments contained in the charter, agreed upon by Malians and recalled several times by them in high places.

The sanctions also follow firm commitments made on several occasions by the authorities with ECOWAS and other stakeholders in the crisis being experienced and they bear the sole responsibility.

The Framework recalls that it had, on many occasions and in many circumstances, called on the Malian Transitional authorities for "the imperative need for good understanding between our country and all its friends and above all between our country and our community of destiny which is ECOWAS".

The Framework asked the transitional authorities to follow the path of consensus and unity, to distance themselves from all populist temptations that are counterproductive and not to break off contacts with ECOWAS and all partners.

It also asked all socio-political actors to avoid invective and other stigmatisations that can only divide Malians further and keep them away from the necessary national awakening that will gradually bring Mali back into the concert of nations and towards a rapid exit from the crisis.

For the Framework, the unity of the people is still possible, in order to ensure a rapid return to normal constitutional order in Mali and to facilitate the lifting of sanctions against the country.

It asked the transitional authorities to follow the path of consensus-building and the strengthening of national unity, maintain a constructive dialogue with ECOWAS and strengthen Mali's relations with the international community.

Last Sunday, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali at an extraordinary summit held in Accra, Ghana.

These sanctions imposed on Mali for not respecting the electoral calendar, include the closure of Mali's borders with ECOWAS member states, the suspension of financial transactions and the freezing of Mali's assets at the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) and the cessation of financial aid to Mali.

ECOWAS rejected the four-year timetable proposed by the military junta and insisted on the 27 February deadline to hold elections.

-0- PANA GT/JSG/BBA/MA 12Jan2022