By Gbenga Abulude
The regional body, Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday lifted the sanctions imposed on Mali as a result of the military coup that removed the democratically elected President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
In a statement by ECOWAS, it reads: “Heads of state and government have decided to lift sanctions” in order to “support” the handover to civilian rule.
ECOWAS noted the publication of a transition roadmap and the status alloted to the military leader in the interim government.
Recall that an interim president, Mr. Bah N’Daw was sworn in September five weeks after the overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
A day after Ndaw was sworn in last month, he appointed a 25-strong government tasked with leading the country to elections.
At least four central cabinet posts – defence, security, territorial administration and national reconciliation – went to military officials. One of the August 18 coup leaders, Colonel Sadio Camara, was named defence minister, while Colonel Modibo Kone got the security and civil protection portfolio. Colonel Ismael Wague, who broke the news of the coup in a dramatic night-time television broadcast, was appointed national reconciliation minister.
Civilians were also appointed to the transitional government, including former prosecutor Mohamed Sidda Dicko as justice minister and former ambassador Zeini Moulaye as foreign affairs minister.
Mali has been plagued by an eight-year conflict that began as a separatist movement in the north but soon devolved into a multitude of armed groups jockeying for control in the country’s central region. The insecurity has spilled into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, with groups exploiting the poverty of marginalised communities and inflaming tensions between ethnic groups.
