ECOWAS sets deadlines for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea for a return to civilian rule

West African coup states – Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have been given new deadlines to ensure elections take place to return them into civilian rule. Leaders of the regional bloc, ECOWAS [...] after their summit in Ghana’s capital Accra agreed to give Mali’s military transitional government 12 to 16 months to hold elections. [...] The leaders in the meantime decided to “uphold the sanctions imposed on 9th January 2022” and “continue the dialogue with a view to reaching an agreement to ensure a gradual lifting of the sanctions.” [...] On the political situation in Guinea, the heads of state offered the ruling junta a month to propose a democratic transition timeline. In the statement the West African leaders demanded for the “finalisation of an acceptable transition timetable no later than 25th April 2022. After this deadline, economic and financial sanctions will be immediately applied.” [...] The heads of state are however unhappy with developments in Burkina Faso following the coup in that country earlier this year. ECOWAS said it “remains very concerned about the duration of the transition period set for thirty-six (36) months by the Transition Charter.” The heads of state have made new demands of Burkina Faso including “the finalisation of an acceptable transition timetable no later than 25th April 2022. After this deadline, economic and financial sanctions will be immediately applied.”
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