BAMAKO, 31 May, 2021, (TON): West African leaders suspended Mali from their regional bloc ECOWAS in response to last week's coup and said authorities must stick to a timetable for a return to democracy, but stopped short of imposing new sanctions.

The leaders of 15-member Economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) held an emergency meeting in Ghana’s capital, Accra on Sunday in response to the Malian military’s toppling of a President and Prime minister in nine months for the second time.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor Botchway told reporters that the suspension will remain in force until the country returns to constitutional rule.

Mali's neighbours and international powers fear the latest revolt will jeopardise a commitment to hold a presidential election next February.

In a communique after the summit, ECOWAS said Mali's membership in the bloc was suspended with immediate effect.

However it did not announce sanctions like those it imposed after the coup last August, which saw members temporarily close their borders with landlocked Mali and halt financial transactions.

It also did not call for new interim President Assimi Goita to step down. The army colonel, who led the August coup and last week's revolt, was declared president on Friday. 

ECOWAS said a new civilian prime minister should be nominated and a new inclusive government formed to proceed with the transition programme.

"The date of 27th February 2022 already announced for the presidential election should be absolutely maintained," the leaders' communique said. 

For the second time in nine months, Col Assimi Goïta has seized power in Mali, detaining transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane after accusing them of failing in their duties and trying to sabotage the West African state's transition to democracy.
He also led the coup which deposed the elected head of state, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, on 18 August last year.