Ecowas suspends Mali’s membership after coup

Bamako, May 30 (EFE).- The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) on Sunday suspended Mali from all of its institutional bodies after the second coup d’état perpetrated by the military in nine months.

The extraordinary summit of 10 Ecowas heads of state, held in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, announced the suspension of Mali “in accordance with Ecowas provisions,” which punish violent constitutional changes, while demanding the appointment of a new civil prime minister and “an inclusive government” to complete the transition.

It also said that the current de facto rulers “must respect the 18-month transition process” and maintain the date of Feb. 27, 2022 for the new presidential elections, and that according to what was agreed with the Ecowas, the heads of the transition government – president, vice president and prime minister – will not have the right to participate in the polls.

The coup leaders deposed President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouané last week, with Vice President Assimi Goita assuming supreme command, later endorsed by the Constitutional Court.

Although the reasons for the coup have not been made public, it is believed that Goita, who also led the coup last August, was opposed to leaving out of the transition government the members of the military who played a leading role during the coup last year.

Ecowas has piloted the transition process from outside Mali in recent months, in concert with the coup leaders, but with the new military coup it has been totally unauthorized. EFE

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