Over 150 members of Mali’s transitional administration, including interim Prime Minister Choguel Maiga, have been sanctioned by the Economic Community of West African States or ECOWAS.
All people on the list, including the 121 members of the National Transitional Council, have had their financial assets frozen. They are also barred from travelling inside ECOWAS.
However, interim president and leader of the junta Colonel Assimi Goita and Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop are not on the list.
According to numerous reports, they are excluded from the list to enable the transitional authorities to attend future sessions of the West African organisation and so sustain interaction between the two sides.
The group has been putting pressure on Mali’s transitional administration, asking that it adhere to a deal to hold elections in February next year.
It has threatened fines against people whom it felt were impeding attempts to restore constitutional authority.
Colonel Goita conducted a coup in May, deposing a transitional government in which he served as vice president.
His administration has been accused of hindering attempts to restore civilian control, despite his vow to keep to the existing transition date.
The junta has justified the delay in elections by citing the difficulties of administering a nation devastated by a terrorist insurgency.
However, the ECOWAS statement said that Mali’s “increased political uncertainties” led to the “deterioration of the security situation,” which might threaten the region’s peace.
