Breaking: ECOWAS Suspends Mali |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

The Economic Community of West African State, ECOWAS, has suspended Mali’s membership, following the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse by Soldiers in a Coup D’etat.

ECOWAS, in a statement, also closed the borders of its member states’ with the country.

But the President, in a broadcast, on Wednesday, designed from office, and dissolved the Parliament.

The statement by ECOWAS read in part: “Also all financial flows between its fifteen members and Mali will be suspended.

“Mali is also suspended from its decision-making bodies”

It, also,  called on the ECOWAS Commission to impose sanctions on the “putschists and their partners and collaborators.”

Thousands of citizens were seen during the arrests cheering the ouster.

Crowds were jubilating at the Independence Square in Bamako, and other places.

For nearly three months, demonstrations demanding Keita’s resignation were held.

Dozens lost their lives, a situation that worsened the crisis.

In a related development, the United Nations has demanded an immediate release of the Malian President, Prime Minister and other government officials arrested by the mutiny soldiers yesterday.