Thousands of Malian demonstrators marched in Bamako on Friday against sanctions imposed by neighbouring countries against the military transitional government for its attempts to extend its control.
People poured into Independence Square, holding signs declaring “Down with ECOWAS” and “Down with France”, to protest restrictions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States and backed by France.
After a military coup in 2020, the junta decided to hold elections in February. They have since backtracked and proposed a new date of December 2025.
Assimi Goita, a Mali army colonel who overthrew Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, is widely hailed by Malians despite international condemnation.
As a result of the sanctions, neighbouring countries have cancelled flights, closed borders, and blocked access to regional financial markets, leaving the landlocked country isolated.
The European Union also announced Thursday that it would impose sanctions in response to ECOWAS’s actions.
Mali was already enmeshed in a dispute with Western allies over the use of Russian military contractors for security services. Malian officials have said the Russians are instructors who brought equipment bought in Russia.
In a speech at the rally, Prime Minister Choguel Maiga praised Russia and China for blocking a proposed statement at the UN Security Council this week that would have supported ECOWAS sanctions.
“Today Russia and China are opposed to the illegal and illegitimate embargo against our country and our people,” Maiga, dressed in military fatigues despite never having served in the armed forces, told the crowd.
France has been sending troops to Mali since 2013 to fight Islamist militant groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The United Nations mission in Mali, MINUSMA, also maintains about 12,000 troops in the country to try to contain the violence.
In yet another sign of fallout, Sweden announced on Friday that it would review its contribution to the U.N. peacekeeping force and withdraw its troops from a European special forces mission in Mali at the end of the year as planned.
Mali’s opposition parties have also criticized the transitional government for delaying elections and for imposing sanctions.
