ECOWAS lifts sanctions on Mali, Burkina Faso

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted the economic sanctions it imposed on Mali and Burkina Faso following military takeovers in those countries in August 2021 and January respectively. 

The sanctions were lifted after military leaders presented a proposal for a 24-month transition to democratic rule and a new constitution that would lead to elections in March 2024.

The sanctions apply immediately, borders with Mali will reopen, and regional diplomats will return to Bamako.

While Mali may be off most of its sanctions, individual sanctions targeted at members of the ruling junta and the transitional council remain. 

"However, the heads of state decided to maintain individual sanctions, and the suspension of Mali from ECOWAS, until the return to constitutional rule,” ECOWAS President Jean Claude Kassi Brou said in Accra at its 61st Ordinary Session.

At the meeting, economic and financial sanctions on Burkina Faso were lifted after its military leaders pledged to restore constitutional order in 24 months, beginning July 1, 2022.

However, sanctions on Guinea still remain, as leaders of the bloc rejected a 36-month transition proposed by the military junta.

It gave Guinea a deadline to submit new arrangements by the end of July or face economic and financial sanctions.

In the interim, Benin's former president Yayi Boni, has been appointed as mediator, to work with the junta to propose an acceptable transition arrangement.