BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali’s transitional government said on Sunday it had not yet reached an agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the date of new elections aimed at restoring democracy after the 2020 coup.
ECOWAS imposed severe diplomatic and commercial sanctions on Mali in January after the decision of the military junta, which came to power in favor of two coups in 2020 and 2021, to postpone the holding of the elections initially planned for 2025. last month.
The transitional authorities had discussions with a representative of the regional bloc on Friday and Saturday in Bamako. They proposed a shorter transition period of 24 months, which was rejected, the government said in a statement.
“The Malian government regrets the absence of compromise at this stage,” he added, adding that he remained open to finding a solution.
ECOWAS did not immediately comment.
Its leaders had said they were ready to gradually ease the sanctions, including the closing of borders and the limitation of financial transactions, if the Malian authorities committed themselves to a more acceptable timetable.
(Tiemoko Diallo report, with Fadima Kontao, written by Alessandra Prentice, French version Laetitia Volga, edited by Jean Terzian)
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