Ecowas regrets Mali’s ‘extreme’ move to expel envoy
The West African regional bloc Ecowas says it regrets the “extreme decision” made by Malian authorities to expel its representative.
It says it “remains committed and will continue to deploy its efforts to support a successful and peaceful transition in Mali,” according to a statement issued on Thursday.
Hamidou Boly, the Ecowas representative, was declared “persona non grata” on Monday, and was given 72 hours to leave the country.
The diplomat of Burkina Faso nationality was accused of “actions incompatible with his status”. He left on Wednesday afternoon.
His expulsion came amid diplomatic pressure by the international community against the Malian transitional authorities – dominated by the military who led two coups in August 2020 and May 2021 – not to postpone the scheduled 27 February elections.
The Collective for the Refoundation of the State, the legislative body of the transitional council, and a civil society group known as the Yerewolo Movement have called for a march on Friday to denounce external interference in the Malian public affairs.
source: bbc
