On Sunday Mali’s transitional government leader, retired Col. Major Ba N’Daou named a new civilian prime minister.
N’Daou appointed former foreign affairs minister of the country Moctar Ouane to the new role.
Ecowas had said that it will not lift sanctions imposed on Mali although the country had an interim president.
It however indicated that sanctions could be lifted when a civilian prime minister is appointed.
Despite meeting that condition, it appears Ecowas isn’t willing to lift sanctions on Mali immediately.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has said that regional leaders “may confer again to discuss outstanding grey areas in the Mali political situation.”
Buhari’s office made that announcement after he met ECOWAS envoy and Nigerian ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
A statement from his office noted that the Nigerian leader has asked the Ecowas special envoy to present a formal report to the ECOWAS chairman, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo “who will then write us officially, and we then determine the next steps”.
“According to the special envoy, the military leaders are yet to satisfy ECOWAS demand of a full civilian as vice president, and what his roles would be in government,” the statement said.
The sanctions on Mali include border closures and the suspension of financial flows, though these were eased so they did not hit ordinary civilians.
Soldiers toppled the government of former president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta last month.
The interim president and his government are now expected to oversee the 18-month transition period towards a return to civilian rule.
Source: Africafeeds.com
