Mali Crisis: Coup Proved Malians Disagreed With ECOWAS’ Resolutions -Expert

The political crisis which led to a military coup in Mali is proof that Malians rejected the resolutions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to a foreign affairs analyst, Dr Riya’uddeen Maitama,

Maitama, an International Relations Lecturer at Bayero University Kano, told THE WHISTLER in an exclusive interview that the crisis also gave an indication of corruption in government.

Mutinying soldiers had on Tuesday detained both the country’s Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse, and the President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Following the incident, the leaders had to resign their positions, in addition to dissolving the parliament.

Also, the soldiers on Wednesday, hinted about allowing civilian organisations to conduct fresh elections, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) had condemned the current development while shutting the borders of member states to Mali, amongst other sanctions.

THE WHISTLER had reported that ECOWAS Commission’s mediation team led by former President Goodluck Jonathan, had among other things, called for a government of national unity, as one of the means geared towards resolving the country’s crisis.

This was backed by the regional body in July 27.

“Given the numerous challenges facing the country, some members of Government will be nominated before the National Unity Government is formed.

“The Heads of State and Government ask all political parties to endeavour to obtain the immediate resignation of all the 31 members of Parliament whose election is contested.

“These resignation will pave the way for by-elections;pending these by-elections, the Parliament will operate with the 116 remaining members”, ECOWAS had stated.

However, Maitama told THE WHISTLER that ECOWAS failed to capture the actual yearnings of Malians in its resolutions for the country.

He said that the people wanted the entire government to go due to the level of insecurity and economic hardship they were facing, but that ECOWAS wanted the same government to be part of the transition.

“The situation in Mali is sending a clear message about the contradiction in the position of ECOWAS and the position of the Malians.

“The Mali nationals showed that they wanted a change of government therefore they were resisting the government that they perceived is corrupt, that cannot handle insecurity and economy.

“While ECOWAS, by method, wants to make sure that it is only a concession from this same government that people have rejected, that must maintain its position.

“Malians may welcome ECOWAS, but the position of ECOWAS to retain the government through some little concessions did not augur well with the people of Mali and that is it,” he added.

According to Maitama, civil society groups and people had been calling for the resignation of the now ousted leaders.

“ECOWAS could have changed power for long, because the people have been demonstrating and they clearly said they want that Government to resign and they refused to,” he mentioned.

“Hence, what has happened yesterday”, he added, noting, “as a result of the rejection of the mediation efforts, then people through the mutinying soldiers decides to oust the current regime and to force him to resignation.”

On the condemnation of the coup by ECOWAS and the African Union, Maitama said the action of the respective bodies had always been the same – that any nation that did not subscribe to democracy would be frowned on.

“ECOWAS is just a sub-regional group made to defend and protect the interest of the African Union; it is not in anyway different from AU and the broader interest of the United Nations.

“What has happened may be a contradiction between these global regional powers that are intervening to mediate conflict and the general interest of the people.

“These bodies like UN, AU, ECOWAS; they all seem to look like, whatsoever that could change power through a means that is not democratic, they would resist and reject it; because it encourages military takeover through unconstitutional means.

“The people of Mali needs change of government, while ECOWAS, AU and UN wants to make sure that only constitutionally elected government that should prevail in power but it contradicts the interest of Malians and they chose to resort to what they have,” he said.