The junta governing Mali granted its own Monday to March 2024 before returning power to civilians, set by decree at two years from March 26 the duration of the so -called transition period.
The head of the junta, Colonel Assimi Goïta, signed a decree for this effect which was read on state television and stipulated that the transition period is set at 24 months, [à] on March 26, 2022.
This announcement comes two days after the summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which on January 9 imposed intense commercial and financial retaliation on Mali to force the junta to reveal a calendar. acceptable return of civilians to power.
The colonels who took over by force in August 2020 to lead this country have fallen since 2012 into a deep security, political and humanitarian crisis have backed down from their initial promise to give way to civilians after the election that set for February.
At the beginning of the year, they even planned to rule for up to five more years. Prior to the ECOWAS summit, while sanctions underscored the crisis in this poor and landlocked country, they reduced their claims to 24 months, without formalizing them as they did on Monday.
So far, ECOWAS has agreed to a maximum of 16 months.
Towards the removal of penalties?
With the summit approaching on Saturday, the resumption of dialogue between ECOWAS and the junta gave Mali hope in lifting sanctions.
West African leaders in fact kept them while keeping the door open on their lift.
Divided on what to do, they postponed any decision to a new high on July 3. But they decided continue the conversation to reach an agreement that allows for the gradual removal of sanctions as the transition stages are completed.
The impact of Monday’s decree on discussions in ECOWAS remains to be seen. In July, there are still 20 and a half months left before the set deadline of March 2024.
France Media Agency
Source: Radio-Canada
