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Experts Call ECOWAS Mali Deadline Unrealistic

Stacey Knott

   ACCRA, GHANA - Leaders of West African states and Mali's military coup
   failed to agree on a transfer to civilian rule in talks this week,
   raising concerns about the political standoff and regional security in
   that country.

   Security experts in Ghana, where the talks took place, say the Economic
   Community of West African States (ECOWAS) needs to help Mali return to
   "normalcy," because it is in a dire situation.

   Ghana's president and ECOWAS chairman, Nana Akufo-Addo, told reporters
   after Tuesday's meeting that they "have not reached any agreement with
   the military junta."

   The regional bloc wanted the military leaders to immediately hand over
   power to a civilian government. The bloc had imposed economic sanctions
   after the coup and given a Tuesday deadline for the junta to appoint a
   new president.

   There are fears the coup could undermine the fight in Mali and the
   Sahel region against Islamist militants with links to al-Qaida and
   Islamic State.

   Quick resolution urged

   Speaking before the talks began, Akufo-Addo said the situation required
   Mali to resolve its political crisis immediately.

   "The terrorists are taking advantage of the situation in Mali, and to
   flex their muscles even more," he said. "Today is supposed to be the
   day when the military junta in Mali is to put in a government which
   should respond to the criteria we set out at our last summit on 28th
   August 2020. That has not been."

   David Agbee, executive director of the Ghana Institute of Governance
   and Security, said many factors at play in Mali need to be considered,
   including ethnic tensions, poverty and the influence of France in the
   country.

   He said the deadline ECOWAS had given the junta would not work.

   "We are just jumping the gun, preaching that the country needs to
   return to democratic rule of governance," Agbee said. "The internal
   problems, the domestic issues need to be understood by ECOWAS. They
   need to deal with the domestic issues and look at the significance of
   the citizens."

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