Malian govt sets up consultation mechanism to continue dialogue with ECOWAS

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Malian government on Wednesday announced the establishment of a consultation mechanism, as part of the continuing dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the international community on the transition in Mali.

This mechanism, a statement said, aims to find a solution that reconciles the aspirations of the Malian people and the demands of the international community, in particular, through the adoption of a consensual timetable for the general elections in Mali.

The working group is coordinated by the Malian ministers of Foreign Affairs, Territorial Administration and Refoundation.

Ghana, which holds the current presidency of ECOWAS, Senegal, which chairs the African Union, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo and the United Nations will take part in the dialogue.

ECOWAS on 9 January imposed heavy sanctions on Mali, whose transitional authorities notified the sub-regional organisation of the impossibility of holding the elections initially scheduled for 27 February, due to the multi-faceted crisis still raging in the country.

The government had proposed an extension of the transition to four years, but this was rejected by ECOWAS, which considered this extension too long.

-0- PANA GT/JSG/BBA/MA 9Feb2022