The head of Mali‘s military-dominated government Colonel Assimi Goita has promised ECOWAS that that he would provide it with an election timetable by January 2022.
Goita, justified postponing the election and holding a national consultation which he said would be “indispensable” for peace and stability.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of State and government, Nana Akufo-Addo, Goita stated; “Mali commits to providing you with a detailed timetable by January 31, 2022 at the latest that could be discussed during an ECOWAS mission,”
“The return to constitutional order is and will remain my number one priority,” he said.
Also Read: ECOWAS Leaders maintain sanctions on Guinea, Mali
The ECOWAS suspended Mali following two military coups in August 2020 and May 2021, sanctioning officials deemed responsible for delaying elections and threatening further measures.
ECOWAS leaders on Sunday maintained it’s stance and threatened to impose further sanctions if Mali’s military rulers failed to stick by plans for February polls.
President of the ECOWAS Commission Jean-Claude Kassi Brou told reporters in Abuja that the Heads of state have decided to keep the deadline of February 27, 2022 for elections in Mali, adding further sanctions would be imposed in January if Mali did not move to stage polls.
Goita emerged as Mali’s leader after a coup that toppled former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
