The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has lifted a trade and travel blockade on Mali after a coup d’état on August 18.
The lifting of the sanctions followed an agreement by leaders of the putsch to form a transitional government to be headed by a civilian, Ecowas said on Tuesday.
The 25-member interim government, formed on Monday, is headed by Bah Ndaw, 70 as president and will operate for 8 months.
Leader of the military putsch, Col Assimi Goita, will serve as vice-president, while former Foreign minister Moctar Ouane will be prime minister.
The military takeover had drawn condemnation from various organisations, including Ecowas and the United Nations.
Ecowas imposed the sanction on August 20, 2020, two days after thec coup, and asked Mali’s neighbours to close their borders with the country.
Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana and chairman of the Ecowas Authority, who announced the lifting of sanctions, asked the Malian government to comply with other demands by the 15-member regional body, including the dissolution of the ruling military council and release of detainees.
Akufo-Addo said the military leader explained in the Transition Charter that the vice president is in charge of defence and security, but would never replace the transition president.
“But it remains unclear if the new government enjoys the support of Malians, especially, the opposition coalition M5-RFP, which spare-headed national protests that preceded the military sacking of the government of elected president Ibrahim Keita,” he noted.
In the new cabinet, military officers occupy four key portfolios — national security, defence, national reconciliation, and regional administration
