Mali junta orders Ecowas representative out
Tuesday October 26 2021
Mali coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita. Mali plunged into its current crisis in August, 2020 after soldiers led by Col Assimi Goita overthrew the government of former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. PHOTO | AFP
The Malian transition government has ordered the representative of the West African regional bloc Ecowas to leave the country, accusing him of working against its interest.
A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Bamako and aired on state broadcaster ORTM on Monday declared Mr Hamidou Boly persona non grata and instructed him to leave the country within 72 hours of notice.
In part, the statement noted that Mr Boly was "engaged with groups, individuals from civil society from the world of politics and even from the world of the press, who undertake actions hostile to the transition and which are not in line with its mission."
The move comes a day after a UN Security Council delegation left the country on a fact-finding mission.
The UN says it supports the position of Ecowas, which has slammed sanctions on Mali over the recent coup and is demanding for the junta to organise elections and hand over power by end of February next year.
The Malian government insists that it needs more time to conduct the elections.
The government told the UN delegation during its visit this week that it would come up with its new timetable for the elections after a planned national consultation slated for December.
Ecowas is yet to make a comment on Monday’s development, which has sent shockwaves in the region.
Mali plunged into its current crisis in August, 2020 after soldiers led by Col Assimi Goita overthrew the government of former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
The junta was forced to set up a civilian government in the face of sanctions by Ecowas. Ten months later, Goita staged a second coup, forcing the civilian government out after accusing them of violating the transition charter.
Since then, the country has been under Ecowas sanction, with the bloc insisting on the transition government to hold election and transfer of power within the 18-month deadline that was initially issued.
Ghanaian President and chairman of the regional bloc, Nana Akufo-Addo, visited the country two weeks ago to reiterate the bloc’s position.