by Robin Emmott and John Irish
BRUSSELS/PARIS, Feb 1 (Reuters) – European Union member countries have agreed to blacklist five members of Mali’s junta after the military in power in Bamako refused to honor an agreement providing for the holding of elections this month, three diplomats told Reuters.
This measure, supported by the 27 Member States, will take effect later this month. It provides for a travel ban and the freezing of the assets of the Malian soldiers concerned, whose names diplomats did not specify but indicated that they were already under African sanctions.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last month imposed severe economic sanctions on Mali for the same reason, including the closure of the country’s borders.
The situation has since worsened between the junta and its neighbors but also its international partners, first and foremost France, whose military commitment against jihadist groups appears increasingly threatened after the expulsion of the French ambassador. in Bamako and the Danish contingent of the European force Takuba.
Taking note of this deterioration in their relations and the rapprochement between the junta and Russia, in particular the mercenaries of the Wagner group, the Europeans said last week that they were giving themselves 14 days to decide on the continuation of their commitment in Mali.
“We continue to remain present in the Sahel to fight against terrorism (…) today we have a dialogue, a reflection, work with our partners (…) to see how we are changing our presence because what is certain is that the situation cannot remain as it is,” French government spokesman Gabriel Attal repeated on Franceinfo on Tuesday.
“By mid-February, we will work with our partners to see what is the evolution of our presence on the spot,” he added.
European sanctions should not have a big impact on Mali’s leaders, especially since according to diplomats interviewed by Reuters, the foreign and defense ministers of the transitional authorities will be spared to maintain open channels of communication.
However, they will allow the EU to keep the commitment it made to ECOWAS to support its own measures. (Report by Robin Emmott in Brussels and John Irish in Paris, French version Tangi Salaün, edited by Blandine Hénault)