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Mass protests staged in Mali against ECOWAS sanctions

There were scenes of hysteria as Malians took to the streets yesterday, responding to the military junta’s call for protests against sanctions imposed by ECOWAS over delayed elections.

Riots erupted in Mali

ECOWAS or the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is made up of fifteen member countries that are located in the Western African region. Mali is also a member.

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In the Mali capital Bamako, a rich mosaic of red, yellow and green (the national colours) swathed protestors who gathered for a rally staged by the military government which describes the sanctions as “inhumane.”

There were wild scenes on social media which showed mass demonstrations in the towns of Kadiolo and Bougouni in the south, with Malians belting out patriotic songs.

Leaders from ECOWAS agreed to sanction Mali last week, their weapons of choice in this regard were a trade embargo and the shutting down of Mali’s borders.

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The United States, the European Union and Mali’s former colonial master France fell into line and supported the measure taken by ECOWAS.

The trade embargo and shutting down of Mali’s borders are a result of Mali's junta announcing it will stay in power for five years more before holding elections, yet it had previously promised to hold the vote in February.

Strongman Colonel Assimi Goita, who staged a coup in August 2020, has also urged Malians to "defend our homeland".

On Friday, his office said the interim government, as he calls it, had developed a "response plan" to counteract the worst effects of the sanctions.

Nouhoum Sarr, a member of Mali's transitional legislature, said "our country will be saved and liberated by the Malian army and the entire Malian people".

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On top of the stringent sanctions against Mali, ECOWAS leaders have also closed the taps of financial aid to Mali and froze the country's assets at the Central Bank of West African States.

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