News:
August 24, 2020
Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have condemned the military takeover in Mali that brought pressure on President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to announce his resignation.
According to a statement signed by the chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government H. E. Mahamadou Issoufou on Thursday, August 20, 2020 after an Extra Ordinary virtual meeting noted that any form of legitimacy for military takeover is unacceptable and demand immediate restoration to constitutional order, and unconditional release of the Malian President together with all arrested government officials and immediate reinstatement of the president of the Republic in accordance with the constitutional provision of the country.
The Authority of Heads of State and Government has suspended Mali from all Community decision making bodies with immediate effect, in accordance with the Supplementary protocols on democracy and good governance until effective restoration of constitutional order.
Again the Heads of States and Government had decided to close all land and air borders as well as stop all financial, economic and trade flow transactions between member states in the case of Mali; “except for basic essentials drugs and other supplies and equipment for the fight against COVID-19, petroleum products and electricity.
It also encouraged all partners and collaborators to ensure that a delegation led by the mediator comprising chair of the Council of Ministers and the president of the Commission task to ensure a speedy return to constitutional order gets to work for positive result.
There has been a call for immediate activation of ECOWAS standby force as there is another expected virtual meeting in a week’s time to assess the situation in the light with the mission report to be submitted by the mediator-led delegation.
ECOWAS Heads of States and Government welcomed the support expressed by the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council on August 19, 2020 through a firm condemnation of the action by the military.
“Heads of States and Government express their solidarity with the people of Mali and reaffirm their commitment to continue to work towards a quick resolution of the crisis”.
The video conference of August 20, 2020 before moving into their main agenda expressed condolences and solidarity with President of Burkina Faso H. E. Roch Christian Kabore and H. E. Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger and citizens over the terrorist attack of August 7 and 9 this year which left many dead and wounded.
The Heads of States and Government further noted that the coup d’état comes in the contest of a socio-political crisis triggered by the parliamentary election of March-April 2020, and took the form of protests, sometimes violent held by some political stakeholders, civil society organizations and members of religious associations.
They also approve government programme by the National Assembly in the Guinea Bissau and welcome progress made in that development.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com