The generals hope the new offer will lead to the lifting of sanctions already imposed after they reneged on their previous promise to hold elections in February.
Mali’s military rulers have proposed restoring civilian rule for two years, following a coup in August 2020 and failure to meet an earlier election deadline that led to crippling sanctions. .
Army leader Colonel Assimi Goita signed a decree published on state television on Monday stating that “the term of the transition is fixed at 24 months (from 26 March 2022). “.
Army Power is confiscated during a first coup in August 2020 and failed to deliver on a promise to hold elections in February, leading to sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Goita forced to get out an interim civilian government in May last year, taking over the presidency.
The military said Monday’s decree follows an “advanced phase of negotiations with ECOWAS” and Mali hopes punishment will be removed.
“The adoption of this decree is proof of the readiness of [Malian] the authorities must dialogue with ECOWAS,” added a spokesman who read the decree.
ECOWAS did not immediately comment on the 24-month decree passed on Monday.
The length of the transition has also caused rifts with Mali’s partners, including the United States and former colonial power, France.
Maiga said ECOWAS’s mediator on the crisis, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, and heads of state have been briefed on the 24-month decree.
“We hope… the sanctions will be lifted soon,” he said, adding that an election timeline would follow.
West African heads of state met in Ghana’s capital Accra over the weekend to discuss the situation and agreed not to lift sanctions, including closing borders and restricting transactions. finance, unless interim leaders propose a shorter transition.
The leaders are expected to convene another summit before July 3.
Military government in neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Guinea are also facing similar threats from ECOWAS for dragging their feet in the democratic transition.
