West Africa’s main political and economic bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set deadlines for coup-hit states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea to return to democratic rule.
It gave Mali’s military transitional government 12 to 16 months to arrange elections and offered Guinea’s ruling junta a month to propose a democratic transition timeline.
The Authority also called on the African Union, the United Nations and all bilateral and multilateral partners to continue to support ECOWAS measures in these countries to maintain peace and stability in the region.
This follows last Friday’s summit in Accra where leaders of the Community indicated the urgent need to reach an agreement in order to avoid further deterioration of the situation in the region.
In a Final Communique issued after the summit on 25th March, 2022, the 15-member ECOWAS repeatedly condemned the putsches and stressed the need to preserve democratic values in West Africa and to collectively address the challenges the countries are going through.
The Authority expressed concern at worsening security and humanitarian situation in Mali with attacks by terrorist groups resulting in military and civilian casualties.
It noted that during the last mission of the ECOWAS Mediator to Mali from 18th to 20th March 2022, the Transition Authorities proposed a 24-month timetable – two years in addition to the 18 months that have already elapsed.
“In light of the foregoing, the Authority urges the Transition Authorities to adhere to the additional period of 12 to 16 months which has been agreed by the joint technical team ECOWAS/AU/UN for the extension of the transition with effect from 15th March 2022, taking into account the activities required for the conduct of the presidential elections. The Authority decides to send the Mediator to Mali to continue and finalise the discussions on the chronogram with the Transition Authorities.”
“Furthermore, the Authority decides to: uphold the sanctions imposed on 9th January 2022; continue the dialogue with a view to reaching an agreement to ensure a gradual lifting of the sanctions; and call on partners to increase their humanitarian support to Mali.”
On the social and political situation in Guinea, the Authority expressed serious concern over the lack of visibility on the transition and observed the transition timetable is still not available while priorities have also not been set.
“The Authority demands the finalisation of an acceptable transition timetable no later than 25th April 2022. After this deadline, economic and financial sanctions will be immediately applied,” the statement said.
On Burkina Faso, the Authority expressed concern at the continued detention of former President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré since the coup d’Etat, in spite of several appeals for his unconditional release and expressed worry the transition authorities are still struggling to improve the security situation in the country and find solutions to the humanitarian situation.
The Authority demanded the finalisation of an acceptable transition timetable no later than 25th April 2022 after which economic and financial sanctions will be immediately applied.
The Authority also appointed a Mediator for Burkina Faso to facilitate dialogue among all stakeholders and ensure a smooth transition and urged the Transition Authorities to step up efforts to enhance security.