By Agence France-PresseThe West African regional grouping ECOWAS on Sunday hardened its stance against military-ruled Mali and Guinea, imposing new individual sanctions and calling on both countries to honor timetables for a return to democracy. In a final declaration following Sunday's summit, ECOWAS said it "highly deplores the lack of progress" towards staging elections in Mali. At a September summit, ECOWAS demanded that Guinea hold elections within six months. The regional leaders also demanded that the Mali junta adhere "strictly" to that country's transition timetable. ECOWAS suspended Mali once again, but did not apply new sanctions.

Source: Daily Observer November 08, 2021 07:14 UTC