The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West Africa’s primary political and economic bloc, has imposed sanctions on the transitional government of the Republic of Mali due to the government's inability to meet a democratic election deadline. 

Mali’s unstable political systems date back to 19th -century French colonial expansion and theocratic regimes. Mali was part of French West Africa, although borders and official titles were repeatedly changed throughout the 1900s. Mali gained independence on September 22, 1960, after the split of the Mali federation (a combined state that included Senegal and the Sudanese Republic). Once Mali gained independence and established a local President, Keita, the new administration, “rapidly replaced French civil servants with Africans, distanced the country from France, established close diplomatic relations and economic ties with communist-bloc countries, and built a state-run economy.” Keita's economic and political policies were highly socialist, and his support in international affairs regularly sided with communist blocs. Then, in response to his socialist agenda, a revolution arose in 1967, which led to the seizing of power by the military. In 1968, this military group overthrew President Keita. Within this new regime, a National Liberation military committee was formed and ruled Mali from 1969 to 1979. In 1979, under a new leader, Traore, the government returned to civilian rule under a military-sponsored political party, the Malian People’s Democratic Union. Traore was democratically elected in 1979 and again in 1985, and  he encouraged civilian engagement with the government through elections, and dealt well with protests. However, in the early 1990s, there were pushes for an even further democratic government, that led to riots, a military takeover, and the eventual imprisonment of Traore. Then, under another military government, Mali was promised a return to civilian rule, and democratic elections were held in 1992, and Alpha Konaré was elected as president. Throughout the next two decades, Mali continued a pattern of rebel intervention, military takeover, and democratic transition attempts, that have led the government to continued instability, and led the country to its current position. 

The most recent call for a democratic transition comes after two coup d'états in less than a year. The first coup took place on August 18, 2020, when “a group of army officers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. During the first nine months of a transition period that should last eighteen, tensions between civilians and the army combined with a fragile political social and political base have paralysed the government.” The second coup occurred on May 24, 2021, this coup strengthened military rule, but also created even more turmoil and unknowns within the government. After the second coup, it is clear that coup leaders remain in power. According to research done by the Crisis Group, 

“Nine years after President Touré’s overthrow and one year since Keïta’s fall, it seems that Mali is making a worrying return to square one. After the May 2021 coup, Mali’s main partners have attempted to closely monitor the transition, mainly to prevent the country’s total collapse, but their influence has remained limited. Despite succeeding in stopping the army from usurping power completely, they continued to prioritise the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement and to push for a short, eighteen-month transition period. Even with thousands of foreign soldiers on the ground and Mali’s dependence on international donors, the country’s outside partners have been unable to help the civilian authorities lay the foundations for positive change in governance. Many actually doubted that transitional authorities would have enough time or legitimacy to undertake extensive reforms.”

After the latest coup, the interim government had agreed to a call by ECOWAS to carry out an 18-month transition back to democracy, holding elections on Feb. 27, 2022. Mali officials have not been able to follow through on these promises of democratic transition and free elections. The organization of elections and implementation of democracy has been stifled by the coup leaders, as well as continued uprisings by opposing forces. Due to the inability to follow through, ECOWAS has imposed sanctions, and in a statement explained these sanctions “include travel bans and asset freezes on all members of the transitional authority and their family members, [and that] ECOWAS would consider additional sanctions in December if no progress is made.”

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