West African leaders have lifted punishing sanctions imposed on Mali following a military coup in August that overthrew embattled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said “heads of state and government have decided to lift sanctions” in order to “support” the handover to civilian rule.
It noted the nomination of retired Colonel Bah Ndaw as interim president and former Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane as prime minister of the transition that is expected to last 18 months.
With the nomination of yesterday’s government, the West Africa bloc has chosen to support the transitional government, as it estimates a fair amount of civilians were part of the newly designated 25 ministers.
At least four central cabinet posts – defence, security, territorial administration and national reconciliation – went to military officials. One of the August 18 coup leaders, Colonel Sadio Camara, was named defence minister, while Colonel Modibo Kone got the security and civil protection portfolio. Colonel Ismael Wague, who broke the news of the coup in a dramatic night-time television broadcast, was appointed national reconciliation minister.
Civilians were also appointed to the transitional government, including former prosecutor Mohamed Sidda Dicko as justice minister and former ambassador Zeini Moulaye as foreign affairs minister
A decision made easier by The publication of a “transitional charter” and military officers agreeing to let go of their grasp of power.
However ECOWAS states have reminded they were still calling for the transitional liberation of all personal arrested in the coup and for the dissolution of the CNSP, that took power following the August 18th coup, in which president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown.
Following , the ECOWAS had imposed economic sanctions on Mali, many feared that with the embargo lasting for months, Mali’s instability could only grow.
