Africa Business Radio

The Economic Community of West African States will impose sanctions on the military junta in Mali, while member states will withdraw all their ambassadors as well as close land and air borders with the country. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, stated that after reviewing the situation in Mali at the summit, the sub-regional leaders rejected the transition schedule proposed by the Malian military junta which they said was totally unacceptable. The body also imposed additional sanctions on the junta, including the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS states and Mali. It, however, exempted some products such as essential consumer goods, pharmaceutical products, as well as medical supplies and equipment, especially materials for electricity and the control of COVID-19.