BAMAKO, June 7 (Reuters) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWA) said on Tuesday it regretted the decision of Mali’s interim government to extend the country’s democratic transition by 24 months, while negotiations between the two parties were ongoing.
Mali’s interim government said on Monday it would take 24 months, starting last March, to complete the democratic transition following the August 2020 military coup.
Cdao members have asked Mali to strive to complete this transition in 16 months at the most. The Cdao has repeatedly condemned the military coup that took place in August 2020 and imposed sanctions on the country in January.
“The Cdao regrets that while negotiations are still underway to reach a consensus, the Malian authorities have taken this decision on the transition,” the bloc said in a statement.
The Cdao specified that a negotiator would continue to dialogue with the Malian authorities in order to agree on a timetable.
Heads of state from ECOWAS member countries met this weekend in Ghana, where they decided not to lift sanctions against Mali unless the junta offers a shorter transition. They are expected to hold another summit before July 3. (Fadimata Kontao report, written by Aaron Ross; French version Camille Raynaud)