Abuja (UNA-OIC) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected the military coup in Mali and ordered sanctions against its ringleaders.
The 15-member African countries bloc, which is based in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, condemned the military mutiny that led to the seizure of power and ouster of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
ECOWAS said in a statement issued today that the coup is likely to have a negative impact on peace and stability in Mali as well as the region, pointing out that it had been mediating for more than two months in order to find a solution to the political crisis in the country.
The bloc says it “strongly condemns the overthrow by Malian soldiers of the democratically elected government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta” and categorically denies any form of legitimacy to the coup plotters. It also demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order.
ECOWAS has suspended Mali from all decision-making bodies of the bloc with immediate effect. It has also announced the closure of all land and air borders as well as stopping all economic, commercial and financial flows and transactions between member countries and Mali.
Keïta announced his resignation and the dissolution of the government and parliament in a televised address, hours after mutinying soldiers detained him and top officials from his government at the Kati military base on Tuesday.
AB/UNA-OIC
