ECOWAS Halts Trade Relations With Mali After Coup

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided halt trade relations with Mali after its President, Mr Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, announced his resignation following a military mutiny.

The 15-member bloc on Wednesday, in a statement, also said they will shut down all their land and air borders with the French-speaking country.

“ECOWAS has noted with great concern the seizure of power by Malian military putschists,” said the statement.

The Malian President and the Prime Minister, Mr Boubou Cisse, were detained by mutinying soldiers yesterday, sparking fears of a coup.

Underscoring the call for sanctions against those who attempted the coup and their partners, ECOWAS said a high-level delegation will be sent to the country to establish constitutional order.

It added that the coup attempt would have a negative impact on peace and stability efforts in the country and the region.

ECOWAS strongly condemned the toppling of the government and rejected the legitimacy of those attempting the coup.

It had also called on all stakeholders to resort to dialogue and talks to resolve the crisis in good faith and mutual trust with a view to sustaining peace and security.

Early Wednesday, Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation and the dissolving of parliament after he was arrested by mutinying soldiers.

He said, “If today, certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?” Mr Keita said from a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako where he and his Prime Minister were detained by the military.

“I wish no blood to be shed to keep me in power,” he said. “I have decided to step down from office.”

Early Tuesday, it was reported that gunshots were heard at the camp, while military trucks were also spotted on the road heading towards the capital. The military reportedly blocked the road from the town of Kati to the capital, Bamako and businesses and offices were also closed.

Last month, the head of the African Union Commission urged calm, continued dialogue and negotiations for the diligent implementation of consensual solutions to preserve peace, stability and social cohesion in Mali.

Tensions erupted in Mali in 2012 following a failed coup and a rebellion by Tuareg separatists that ultimately allowed al-Qaeda-linked militant groups to take over the northern half of the country.

As the tensions mounted, anxiety has also grown in Mali in recent months about another military-led change of power, particularly after regional mediators from ECOWAS failed to bridge the impasse between Mr Keita’s government and opposition leaders.

Mali has been in the grip of a deep political impasse since June, with President Keita facing increasingly strident demands for his resignation.

The opposition, June 5 Movement, named for the date of its first protest, has been channelling deep anger over a dire economy, perceived government corruption and brutal jihadist conflict.

The opposition alliance’s anti-Keita campaign veered into crisis last month when at least 11 people were killed over three days of unrest that followed a protest.

In an effort to avoid chaos in the country, ECOWAS then stepped in to mediate. The bloc suggested the formation of a unity government and other measures late last month but stuck by the President whose tenure is expected to end in 2023.

But the June 5 Movement has repeatedly rejected proposals and continued to demand Mr Keita’s departure and now with the military taking over, the soldiers behind the coup – calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People – appeared on state television in military fatigues, pledged to stabilise the country.