ECOWAS, Françafrique & France
FrontPageAfricaFeb 14, 2022
Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sun. lifted economic and financial sanctions imposed on Mali with immediate effect and agreed to Bamako's proposal for a 24-month transition to civilian rule.
Though borders are being reopened and the region's diplomats are returning to Bamako, the bloc's Commission Pres., Jean Claude Kassi Brou, said that Mali's ECOWAS suspension and individual sanctions imposed on members of the military government and the transitional council will be maintained.
To this day, the West, led by France, pretends to be committed to democracy in Africa, while it has no problem with autocratic governments as long as they serve its interests. It's high time for ECOWAS to break away from its role as a "Françafrique" tool and go its own way in solving West African problems. It remains to be seen whether the organizations' lifting of sanctions against Mali and Burkina Faso is a true sign of growing sovereignty and independence.
ECOWAS's tough stance against Mali's junta seems to be bearing fruit. However, the democratic transition promised by Bamako must now be closely monitored, particularly since the new legislative law provides the junta with some loopholes for participation in the presidential elections announced for 2024. ECOWAS is well advised to firmly uphold its commitment to democracy and the rule of law, as well as the military leaders of Burkina Faso and Guinea.