04 Jul 2022 | 09:04 AM UTC
Mali: ECOWAS sanctions lifted as of July 4; air and land travel resume /update 3
ECOWAS lifts sanctions on Mali, including land and air border closures, as of July 4.
Event
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted most sanctions against Mali following an ECOWAS meeting July 3. The sanctions were initially imposed on Jan. 9 after the transitional government, in power since the August 2020 coup, announced the postponement of the presidential election originally scheduled for February 2022. ECOWAS had closed the land and air borders of its member states with Mali and suspended all trade with Mali except for essential items, including medicines, food, petroleum products, and electricity. Members states had also frozen all Malian assets in their respective financial institutions. Mali remains suspended from ECOWAS bodies.
ECOWAS has 15 member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Increased air and ground transportation demand is possible as travel resumes with ECOWAS countries.
Context
The lifting of sanctions come after the transitional government announced March 26 a 24-month transition before a return to civilian rule. ECOWAS and Mali also agreed to hold a referendum on a revised constitution and legislative elections in 2023.
Advice
Reconfirm the status of border crossings and flights operating between Mali and other ECOWAS countries.
