The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday decided at an emergency summit to suspend the membership of Mali due to the political crisis in the country, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing a statement from the community.
"After long discussions, the heads of state and government decided to suspend Mali's membership in the ECOWAS institutions," the statement said. ECOWAS also called for the immediate appointment of an interim civilian prime minister for Mali.
An emergency summit of ECOWAS heads of state was held Sunday in Ghana's capital, Accra, to address Mali's political crisis after the military seized power by arresting interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane on May 24. After 48 hours in custody at an army base, both politicians said they were stepping down from their posts. Mali's Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that Vice-President Colonel Assimi Goita became interim president.
This is the second time in nine months that ECOWAS has held talks with the military to return the civilian rule to Mali. Following the August 18, 2020 military coup, ECOWAS imposed sanctions against the Malian regime, which were lifted after the military agreed to establish a government headed by a civilian as well as to elect an interim president for Mali. Retired Defense Minister Colonel Bah Ndaw was elected interim president on September 21, and coup leader Assimi Goita became vice president. Bah Ndaw appointed Moctar Ouane, who was formerly head of the Foreign Ministry, as head of Mali's interim government on September 27. The military also announced that Mali would undergo a transition period and return to democratic rule through presidential and parliamentary elections to be held 18 months after they seized power.
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Based on materials from TASS