The military junta in Mali has condemned sanctions imposed on the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), describing them as “illegal and illegitimate.”
In a statement, it said ECOWAS’ stance contrasted with the efforts made by the transition administration and its readiness for dialogue to find a compromise.
The response by the Malians comes just hours after the sanctions were announced at the end of an extraordinary summit by heads of state and government of the 16-member nation grouping.
The ECOWAS leaders who met in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, earlier on Sunday, took the decision in response to what they say is the failure of the transition administration to meet its deadline for transfer of power to a civilian government.
Effective immediately, Mali is cut off entirely from all ECOWAS institutions, according to a communique issued by the heads of state. It ordered all member countries to shut their borders – both land and air – with the landlocked nation, and to desist from engaging in all commercial transactions with it.
The sanctions also include freezing of the assets of the Malian government and suspension of all financial assistance from ECOWAS financing institutions.
The junta said the sanctions constituted “clear violation” of ECOWAS’ laws. It accused the bloc of being used by “extra-regional powers with ulterior motives.”
“The Government of Mali strongly condemns these illegal and illegitimate sanctions imposed by UEMOA and ECOWAS, organizations based on solidarity and the pan-African ideal…,” the statement issued by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization reads in part.
“The Government of Mali regrets that West African sub-regional organizations are being instrumentalized by extra-regional Powers with ulterior motives” it added.
As an act of retaliation, the Malian government also announced that it is withdrawing all of the country’s ambassadors to ECOWAS member states and shutting its land and air borders. It also vowed to take all necessary measures to ensure the normal supplies of citizens’ needs.
The Malians went further to warn against any attempt to deploy foreign military forces on their soil, in apparent reference to ECOWAS’s decision to activate its standby force. To this effect, it called on its defence and security forces, as well as the population, to be vigilant and mobilized.
It also invited friendly countries and institutions to render it support to respond to the situation.
