Mali’s army-dominated government has called for nationwide demonstrations on Friday against stringent sanctions imposed by the West Africa bloc ECOWAS over delayed elections. The Sahel state’s interim government stated Monday night that the sanctions — which include border closures and a trade embargo — are “extreme” and urged “the entire population and diaspora” to demonstrate against them on Friday. Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed to sanction Mali on Sunday, in a decision that was later backed by former colonial power France at the UN Security Council. Under threat of sanctions following that putsch, Goita had promised to hold presidential and legislative elections, and to restore civilian rule by February 2022. His government has argued that rampant insecurity in Mali prevents it from organising safe elections by the end of February.

Source: Punch January 11, 2022 21:30 UTC