Mon 15 November 2021:
The European Union may impose sanctions on Mali because its authorities, according to Brussels, have failed to adhere to the transitional democratic process, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday.
“This morning, EU foreign ministers discussed the imposition of sanctions against Malian authorities that are not implementing a democratic transition,” the minister told reporters in Brussels.
France initiated the discussion on the issue in response to a request of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Le Drian noted.
The EU ministers supported the sanctions, he added.
Mali Opposes
Mali does not consider EU sanctions the right decision and advocates dialogue, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told Sputnik.
“We urge the European Union and others to really analyze and study this issue with great care, great pragmatism, and not weaken a country that is already almost on its knees,” Diop said.
According to the minister, before the elections, the country needs a transitional period to carry out reforms, as well as an improvement in the security situation, since under the current conditions it would be possible to calmly hold elections only in five out of 19 regions.
After accusing interim President Bah Ndaw and acting Prime Minister Moctar Ouane of violating transition regulations, Malian armed forces led by then-Vice President Assimi Goita deposed them in May.
The military council took control of the country and declared that presidential and parliamentary elections would be held in 2022. Mali’s Constitutional Court declared Goita to be the interim president.
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