The junta in power in Mali has distanced itself from the Community of West African States’ sanctions against neighboring Guinea, which is also governed by the military (ECOWAS).
To support the military’s takeover of power and its continuing leadership in both nations, ECOWAS has suspended Mali and Guinea from its decision-making bodies.
In September 2021 in Guinea and August 2020 in Mali, the military ousted the civilian governments.
In addition to the suspension of the existing decision-making bodies, the financial institutions of ECOWAS voted to halt all aid and financial transactions with Guinea on September 22 at a summit without the involvement of Guinea or Mali.
Individual sanctions have also been imposed on a number of individuals.
In an announcement posted on social media on Wednesday night, the Malian government expressed its “outrage” at these actions taken against Guinea.
The Malian government “decides to distance itself from all illegal, inhumane, and unjust measures enacted on the sister country of Guinea and will not follow through on them,” stating its “unwavering support” with the Guinean people.
It will take action to help Guinea and lessen the effects of the sanctions “if required.”
The communiqué was made public before three West African chiefs of state who had been sent by ECOWAS to Mali on Thursday to try to resolve a diplomatic problem with another country, Côte d’Ivoire.
The ECOWAS imposed a severe commercial and financial blockade on Mali from January to July in retaliation for the military’s intention to maintain control for up to five more years. Since then, under pressure, the Colonel Assimi Gota-led junta has agreed to hold elections in February 2024, and ECOWAS has lifted the embargo.
Individual penalties, meanwhile, continue to be in force against junta members in Mali.
One of the few nations to maintain open borders and demonstrate support for Mali in the face of the January sanctions was Guinea.
On September 22, the day of the ECOWAS conference, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the head of the junta in Guinea, was welcomed with full honors by his Malian counterpart. He was given the title of Grand Cross in the Mali National Order.
