Unilaterally, the Malian junta has set the duration of the new transition at 24 months from March 26, 2022 as it has ruled the country since the 2020 coup. ECOWAS reacted Tuesday evening in a terse press release .
After the announcement made by the Malian junta, the Economic Community of West African States reacted in a few lines and announced that it regretted that the decision has been made taken during the negotiations. The leaders of the sub-regional organization are continuing to prepare, as planned for July 3, the Accra summit. Soon former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, ECOWAS mediator for Mali, will resume his pilgrim’s staff to meet several Heads of State of member countries of the institution as well as the Malian authorities. Objective ? Obtain a consensus on the Mali file.
A well-informed source at ECOWAS recognizes this: during the last summit in Accra, while exposing the Malian file, the mediator presented several solutions. Among them, a transition lasting around 24 months. But the text deserved to be refined. The way ” horsewoman Bamako had to announce the duration of the transition angered several heads of state, acknowledged this source.