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The ECOWAS bloc had imposed sanctions on Mali after the military coup that toppled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
West African states will maintain sanctions on Mali until it appoints a civilian prime minister, said the leader of the ECOWAS regional bloc.
The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States imposed sanctions on Mali after the August 18 military coup, which toppled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
The sanctions “will be lifted when a civilian prime minister is appointed,” ECOWAS Commission Chairman Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said on Friday.
Mali’s neighbors took a hard line after last month’s coup, imposing sanctions in a bid to pressure the military government to quickly reestablish civilian rule.
Trade restrictions include a ban on commercial trade and financial flows, but not on basic necessities, medicines, equipment to fight the coronavirus pandemic, fuel or electricity.
Mali’s military government backed a plan to restore civilian rule after the coup and appointed a committee that elected 70-year-old retired colonel and former defense minister Bah Ndaw as interim president.
Ndaw, who took office on Friday, promised to comply with the plan, or “transitional statute,” and hand over power within 18 months.
“The letter is my guide,” Ndaw said at the ceremony.
“Mali has given me everything. I am glad to be your submissive slave, willing to do everything possible to bring you back to full constitutional legality, with elected authorities, legitimate representatives.
“The transition period that is beginning will not dispute any international commitment by Mali, nor the agreements signed by the government.”
‘We are optimistic’
The leader of the coup, Colonel Assimi Goita, 37, was also sworn in as interim vice president.
However, the transition letter has never been submitted.
Brou stressed the importance of publishing the document and cautioned that ECOWAS could not accept that Goita, as vice president, could potentially replace Ndaw.
“The main concern of ECOWAS is to maintain constitutional democracy in the region,” he said.
Mali’s neighbors have watched the dramatic political turmoil in Bamako with concern, eager to prevent the fragile country from falling into chaos.
Swathes of the vast country are already out of government control, due to an armed uprising that first erupted in 2012 and has also fueled ethnic tensions.
To date, thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict and hundreds of thousands have had to flee their homes.
The tensions generated by the conflict, as well as a desperate economy and corruption, contributed to the massive protests against Keita, which culminated in the coup last month.
The 15-nation ECOWAS bloc took a hard line, imposing sanctions on Mali and threatening a “total embargo” if military leaders were installed in the interim government.
On Thursday, former Nigerian President and ECOWAS mediator Goodluck Jonathan had commented favorably on the upcoming inauguration.
“We are optimistic that this event will mark the beginning of a return to normalcy in Mali,” he said on Twitter.
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