Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Mali: Targeted sanctions to hit those disrupting ‘elections’

Captain Amadou Sanogo, leader of Mali's military junta
The leaders of West Africa’s sub-regional economic bloc, ECOWAS, have threatened to reinstate targeted sanctions against those who disrupt the process for the election of a new president.

ECOWAS believe recent clashed in Bamako between elements of the country's armed forces which erupted on April 30, 2012, will hinder the process to replace the ousted former President Amadou Toumani Toure. 



Touray was deposed by mutinying soldiers on 22nd March 2012. The comprehensive sanctions against the country, including targeted sanctions against members of the military junta that deposed the former president and their associates, were lifted after they agreed to hand over power to the former speaker of the parliament as interim president until the election of a new president based on a 12-month transition programme.

At the culmination of an extraordinary summit on May 3 in Dakar, Senegal, the leaders strongly condemned the recent clashes which traumatized the population of the capital still reeling from the aftershock of the coup.

It appealed for the immediate cessation of hostilities and a united-military in defence of the country's territorial integrity and tackle the separatist campaign in the north of the country.

The sub-regional grouping also urged the country's transition authority to expedite the preparation of a road map detailing the time frame for various activities, including the framework for consultation on various issues that will culminate in the election of the president and the restoration of full constitutional rule. 

Regional leaders also requested that the mediator in the crisis, Burkunabe President, Blaise Compaore, to review the role of the CNRDRE, the military junta that deposed the former president, in the transition in line with the framework agreement signed with the junta.
They also urge him to make appropriate recommendations to the Heads of State and Government.

On the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in that country, they directed the ECOWAS Commission to prepare the force for immediate deployment "as soon as the Malian authorities make the relevant request". 

Defining the modalities for military cooperation between the Malian army and the ESF "in view of the deployment" is also high on ECOWAS’s agenda.

Written by Modou S. Joof
















 

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