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West Africa leaders press Mali junta over transition
Sep 15, 2020
West African leaders met the head of Mali’s military junta on Tuesday to press for the return to civilian rule nearly a month after rebel officers seized power in the fragile state.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) slapped sanctions on Mali after the putsch, including closing borders and a ban on trade and financial flows, and has called for elections within 12 months.
The 15-nation bloc also gave the new military rulers until Tuesday to name a civilian president and prime minister to head a transition government.
“My reason for this meeting is simple. We need to bring finality to our deliberations on Mali,” Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said in an opening statement at a lodge at Peduase, eastern Ghana.
“That country can no longer afford any delay in putting a responsible government in place.”
Akufo-Addo, the current ECOWAS rotating chairman, reiterated that Tuesday was “supposed to be the day the military junta is supposed to put in place a government”.
“A closure should be brought to the matter now,” he said.
Junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita, who was appointed interim head of state, was attending the talks on his first trip abroad since the seizure of power.
He was set to deliver a speech behind closed doors to the assembled leaders from across the region outlining the putschist’s plans.
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