forced hand

Mali: ECOWAS announces tough measures to force Bamako’s return to civilian rule

By Kent Mensah

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Posted on January 10, 2022 15:33

Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of two military coups and new interim president, walks during his inauguration ceremony in Bamako
Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of two military coups and new interim president, walks during his inauguration ceremony in Bamako, Mali June 7, 2021. REUTERS/Amadou Keita

West African leaders have decided to push back hard this time to compel coup leaders in Mali to return the country to civilian rule. They have seized power since August 2020.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wants Mali to hold elections next month to restore civilian governance, however, the military junta is now proposing a five-year transition plan, which has been described by the 15-member bloc as “unacceptable”.

After an extraordinary summit in Ghana’s capital Accra on Sunday, the West Africa regional bloc resolved that all members should close their land and air borders with the landlocked country after the military leaders reneged on promise to hold a poll in February 2022.

The consequences of the people suffering will lead to revolt. And when the people revolt, no army can stop the people, assuming they decided to revolt against the Malian military leaders.

Reading the 17-point strongly worded communiqué ECOWAS president Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said the leaders have “regrettably observed the failure of the transition authorities in

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