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Sunday, December 3, 2023 | 
U.S. & World Politics

International authorities strongly condemn Mali’s coup

Sanctions have been threatened against the impoverished country. The situation may get worse before it gets better

By Aspen Pflughoeft
SHARE International authorities strongly condemn Mali’s coup
Malian police gather outside the Bourse du Travail where striking workers gathered to protest the arrest of President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.

Malian police gather outside the Bourse du Travail where striking workers gathered to protest the arrest of President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane by military personnel in Bamako, Mali on Tuesday May 25, 2021.

Associated Press

Last week, the West African country of Mali had its second coup in nine months, the Deseret News reported. Col. Assimi Goita, the former vice president and leader of last August's coup, led the military in seizing power from interim civilian leaders. The move brought diplomatic uproar internationally, Al Jazeera reported.

  • The U.S. threatened sanctions immediately after last week’s coup, per Al Jazeera.
  • France, the former colonial ruler of Mali, threatened sanctions and threatened to remove French troops helping against security threats, per Al Jazeera.
  • No sanctions have come against Mali yet, CNN said.

Following last week’s coup, the Economic Community of West African States sent diplomats to negotiate with Goita, the Deseret News reported. Both organizations have now suspended Mali’s membership, according to CNN.

Related

Mali suspended from the African Union and ECOWAS

Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States issued a statement immediately suspending Mali’s participation in the 15-nation economic bloc, says Bloomberg. The suspension leaves Mali disadvantaged politically and potentially economically, Al Jazeera reported.

  • The organization did not immediately issue sanctions against Mali like it did last August, Al Jazeera reported. The previous sanctions hit Mali very hard.

Late Tuesday evening, African Union issued a similar statement condemning the coup and suspending Mali, Al Jazeera said. The African Union also threatened sanctions against the country if constitutional democracy is not restored.

  • According to the African Union via CNN, Mali needs “an unimpeded, transparent and swift return to the civilian-led transition ... failing which, the Council will not hesitate to impose targeted sanctions.”
  • The union also called on the military to “urgently and unconditionally return to the barracks, and to refrain from further interference in the political processes in Mali,” Al Jazeera said.

Both Economic Community of West African States and the African Union suspended Mali following the coup last August, CNN said. The country was reinstated after announcing new heads of a civilian government.

What happens now?

According to Bloomberg, Mali must hold elections by Feb. 27, 2022, in order to regain membership to economic community. The country must return to civilian leadership and the planned democratic transition to regain membership in the African Union.

  • Goita, who was named president on Friday, has announced he will hold elections as planned, CNN said.

Authorities continue to push Mali to name new civilian leaders immediately, Bloomberg reported. The threat of sanctions looms over Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries, according to Al Jazeera.