Mali accuses West African economic union of ignoring order to lift sanctions

‘Government strongly denounces this attitude which constitutes a flagrant denial of justice,’ says junta

KIGALI, Rwanda

The transition government in Mali accused the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) of ignoring a court order to lift sanctions on Thursday. 

UEMOA instructed all financial institutions under its umbrella to suspend Mali in January after the junta delayed elections intended to steer the country back to constitutional order after coups in 2020 and 2021.

The measures were announced in conjunction with sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which froze state assets, closed its borders and suspended non-essential financial transactions.

ECOWAS relied on UEMOA tools to impose the sanctions.

The junta repeatedly appealed in vain for a lifting of the sanction and filed a legal complaint with a UEMOA court in February.

Last month, the court suspended the sanctions by the eight-nation body but that order has yet to be executed.

“The government notes with regret that despite being notified twice by Mali and the court, the order was not executed yet it is not subject to appeal,” the junta said Thursday. “The government strongly denounces this attitude which constitutes a flagrant denial of justice and is at odds with the requirements of the rule of law which impose respect for legal decisions.”

The government has said the sanctions have inflicted significant human and social tolls on the people of Mali and those from sub-regional countries.

There has been a disagreement between ECOWAS and Malian leaders about the period of the transition.

The bloc has suggested 12 to 16 months.

ECOWAS heads of state met in Ghana after the court order was issued and asked Mali to continue dialogue to agree on a transition period against which the sanctions would be gradually lifted.