Civilians and soldiers in Mali have been celebrating in streets this week following the “resignation” and detention of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
But the international community and neighbours of the landlocked West African country are not happy.
The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) suspended Mali from its summits or votes, and imposed sanctions on Col Assimi Goita, 37, and the other leaders of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP).
In an emergency virtual session, Ecowas whose headquarters is in Abuja, Nigeria, called for the immediate release of Keita, his Prime Minister Boubou Cissé and other top government officials being held at a military camp.
“The events in Mali are setbacks for regional diplomacy. They have grave consequences for peace and security of West Africa,” Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in the virtual meeting on Thursday night.
“We need to impose sanctions that can create and sustain sufficient pressures on the military to force a return to the status quo. The action of the Malian military regrettably hoisted on the sub-region the need to decide the options that will be consistent with the provisions of the protocol on good governance,” he said referring to a policy the bloc enacted to reject military takeovers.
Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufu was asked to lead a delegation to Mali, even though the coup leaders shut down the country’s airspace and land borders.
The African Union suspended Mali, as has been the tradition since 2007 when it passed a resolution against unconstitutional changes of government.
So, why is the international community against an event widely celebrated in Mali?
Some observers say the leaders are merely reacting to history. West Africa has had more coups and coup attempts than anywhere else on the continent.
“Coups in Africa are ill wind that blows no one any good,” said Ike Ekweremadu, a Nigerian politician who was Speaker of Ecowas Parliament.
Keita represented a democratic transition when he was elected president in September 2013. He replaced soldiers who overthrew President Amadou Toumani Touré the previous year.
Some say Keita’s inability to deal with corruption and violence across the country precipitated his downfall.
“The lesson is clear. The eight years that have passed since the last coup have largely been wasted and political stagnation proved costly,” said the International Crisis Group, the Brussels-based conflict research organisation, on Friday.
“Malian actors and their partners must restore constitutional order, without contenting themselves with restoring the system and reinstating the overthrown personalities.”
Mali’s neighbours expressed fears of a rise in insurgency attacks if the country does not return to normality.
ICG says the country must change strategy, including talking to rebel groups.
“These efforts will not be without difficulty. They risk arousing opposition in communities affected by violence,” it said.
