ECOWAS suspends Mali, to impose sanctions

The West Africa bloc ECOWAS on Tuesday condemned
a military putsch in Mali and pledged a range of
retaliatory actions , including financial sanctions.
Rebel soldiers arrested Mali ’ s President Ibrahim
Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse on
Tuesday afternoon following weeks of political tension
in the country .
The dramatic move followed the seizure of an army
base near the capital Bamako that morning . statement , the Economic Community for West African
States said that its members would close land and air
borders to Mali and pledged to demand sanctions
against “ all the putschists and their partners and
collaborators” .
The 15 – nation bloc – which includes Mali – also said
that it would suspend the country from its internal
decision – making bodies.
“ ECOWAS has noted with great concern the seizure of
power by Malian military putschists , ” said the
statement , which was originally published in French .
Mali has been in the grip of a deep political impasse
since June , with President Keita facing increasingly
strident demands for his resignation .
The opposition June 5 Movement, named for the date
of its first protest , has been channelling deep anger
over a dire economy , perceived government corruption
and a brutal jihadist conflict .
The opposition alliance ’ s anti – Keita campaign veered
into crisis last month when at least 11 people were
killed over three days of unrest that followed a protest.
In an effort to avoid chaos in notoriously unstable
Mali , ECOWAS then stepped in to mediate Movement has repeatedly spurned compromise
proposals , and has continued to demand Keita ’ s
departure .
The political opposition declared a new phase of anti –
government rallies on Monday .
Keita , 75 , is currently being held by rebel soldiers
outside of the capital . Movement has repeatedly spurned compromise
proposals , and has continued to demand Keita ’ s
departure .
The political opposition declared a new phase of anti –
government rallies on Monday .
Keita , 75 , is currently being held by rebel soldiers
outside of the capital .