France, US, Algeria pile pressure on sanctions-hit Mali
Mali's head of the military junta Colonel Assimi Goita in Accra, Ghana, on September 15, 2020. He called the sanctions "illegitimate, illegal and inhumane", although he added that he remains open to dialogue with Mali's West African neighbours. PHOTO | REUTERS.
In a sharp escalation after months of diplomatic tensions, leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) on Sunday agreed to shutter borders with the Sahel state and impose a trade embargo.
The move came after Mali's interim government last month proposed staying in power for up to five years before staging elections -- despite international demands that it respect a promise to hold elections on February 27.
As well as shutting borders and imposing a trade embargo, Ecowas also agreed to halt financial aid to Mali and freeze its assets at the Central Bank of West African States.
