Mali junta orders Ecowas representative to vaccate the country

By Jacob Kubeka –

Malian transition administration has ordered the representative of the West African regional organization Ecowas to leave the country, accusing him of acting against the interests of the country.

Mr Hamidou Boly was declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the nation within 72 hours, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry in Bamako and carried by state broadcaster ORTM on Monday.

Mr. Boly was “involved with groups, persons from civil society, the world of politics, and even the world of the press, who undertake measures adverse to the transition and are not in keeping with its goal,” according to the statement.

The move came a day after the UN Security Council delegated authority to the country.

The UN says it supports the position of Ecowas, which has slammed sanctions on Mali over the recent coup and is demanding for the junta to organise elections and hand over power by end of February next year.

The Malian government insists that it needs more time to conduct the elections.

The government told the UN delegation during its visit this week that it would come up with its new timetable for the elections after a planned national consultation slated for December.

Ecowas is yet to make a comment on Monday’s development, which has sent shockwaves in the region.

Mali plunged into its current crisis in August, 2020 after soldiers led by Col Assimi Goita overthrew the government of former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The junta was forced to set up a civilian government in the face of sanctions by Ecowas. Ten months later, Goita staged a second coup, forcing the civilian government out after accusing them of violating the transition charter.

Since then, the country has been under Ecowas sanction, with the bloc insisting on the transition government to hold election and transfer of power within the 18-month deadline that was initially issued.

Ghanaian President and chairman of the regional bloc, Nana Akufo-Addo, visited the country two weeks ago to reiterate the bloc’s position.

Culled from: theeastafrican.co.ke