West African leaders will meet Sunday in Accra to discuss how to counter the military juntas that have seized power by force in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
During this time, a decision will be made on the imposition of sanctions against these countries.
The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must decide on Mali, which has been subject to tough trade and financial sanctions since January 9.
Following the military coups in Burkina Faso and Guinea, their membership in some bodies of the ECOWAS Economic Community was suspended. But the military authorities of the two countries insist on continuing the rule for three years, and the two countries are subject to more severe punishments.
On June 4 last year, the last ECOWAS summit took place, during which the putschists were given an additional month to negotiate and agree to lift or maintain sanctions.
Last week, African mediator Goodluck Jonathan (former President of Nigeria) arrived in Bamako, the capital of Mali. No information has been released about his talks, but a member of his delegation told AFP that “Mali has made tremendous progress.” After all, the authorities of this republic announced last Wednesday that a constitutional referendum and legislative elections will be held next year in 2023, and presidential elections in 2024.
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said last Friday that “the measures taken these days are moving towards the lifting of sanctions.”
For its part, Guinea launched an intense diplomatic campaign this week to appease West African leaders and avoid further sanctions. The country’s ruling junta has angered its neighbors by agreeing to a 36-month transitional period, a deadline that African Union President Macky Sall has deemed unacceptable.
Source: AFP.