Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting in a summit in Accra on Sunday lifted the trade and financial sanctions imposed on Mali since January. The ECOWAS leaders considered that the progress made by Mali in recent weeks justified a partial lifting of sanctions. The sanctions included the closure of borders, the freezing of Malian assets and the suspension of trade and financial exchanges. ECOWAS ambassadors to Bamako who had been recalled will also be able to return to the Malian capital. Although the financial sanctions targeting the junta’s leaders will be maintained and the country will remain suspended from ECOWAS bodies, the decisions taken Sunday are deemed a very important step forward.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 04, 2022 15:33 UTC