ECOWAS West Africa bloc gets tough on Mali with push for 31 MPs to resign

Issued on: 27/07/2020 – 18:30

West African leaders on Monday adopted a tough four-point plan in a bid to resolve Mali's political crisis, including calling for the resignations of 31 parliamentarians elected in disputed polls and for the swift creation of a unity government.

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In a statement issued after an extraordinary video summit, heads of the 15-nation, West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, stood by Mali's embattled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. But the bloc also called for a unity government to be "established rapidly" and urged the opposition to join it.

Addressing demands by protestors that Keita quit, the bloc maintained Mali's democratic constitution had to be respected, and asked an ECOWAS commission "to consider sanctions against all those who act contrary to the normalisation process of the crisis."

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The four-point plan included holding new elections for 31 parliamentary seats which were contested, sparking protests after the country's constitutional court ruled in favour of Keita's party.

Infuriated by corruption, disputed local election results and army losses to jihadists, tens of thousands of people have taken to thRead More – Source

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