BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali’s transitional authorities on Sunday stated it had not but reached an settlement with West Africa’s regional bloc on when to carry elections that may restore democracy after a navy takeover.
The West African state was hit onerous with sanctions in January after the navy junta that first seized energy in a 2020 coup proposed extending its rule till 2025.
The interim authorities held negotiations with an envoy from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Bamako on Friday and Saturday and proposed a shorter 24-month transition interval, which was rejected, the federal government stated in a press release.
“The authorities of Mali regrets the shortage of compromise at this stage,” it stated, including that it remained open to agreeing an answer.
There was no fast remark from ECOWAS, whose leaders have stated they’ll progressively ease the sanctions, which embrace border closures and restrictions on monetary transactions, if a suitable timetable for elections is proposed.
(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo; Additional reporting by Fadima Kontao; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)
