West African leaders at their regional summit on Sunday lifted sanctions against three neighboring countries that are led by military governments and are on the path to democratic rule.
“The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit decided to lift all economic and financial sanctions imposed on Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, although the membership of these countries is stuck in the regional bloc.”
He noted that the suspension of the three countries’ membership in ECOWAS will be in place until the elections, adding that regional leaders are calling on development partners to resume their assistance.
To lift the sanctions, leaders attending a summit in the Ghanaian capital Accra agreed on a transitional roadmap for the Malian authorities that called for presidential elections in March 2024.
In January, the Economic Community of West African States imposed sanctions on Mali, cutting off most trade with the country along its land and air borders with other countries in the bloc. These measures have hurt the financial economy and raised humanitarian concerns amid mass suffering.
Military leaders in Guinea and Burkina Faso have also proposed various transition periods that will eventually lead to elections.
Source: Associated Press