The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed tough sanctions on Mali earlier this month in response to delays in restoring civilian rule after a 2020 military coup. Mali was supposed to hold elections in February 2022, but the military-led government has pushed that back by up to 5 years.

Army Colonel Assimi Goita blames continuing insecurity in the Northern region. The sanctions include closure of members’ land and air borders with Mali, the suspension of non-essential financial transactions, and the freezing of Malian state assets in ECOWAS’ central and commercial banks.

The move has been backed by the United States, the European Union and former colonial power France.

The death of former President, Ibrahim Boubacar, overthrown by the military in 2020 also comes as thousands of Malians took to the streets to protest against international sanctions that have isolated the nation.

This week on the show we look into the current situation in Mali, and we ask whether the West African leaders will manage to put the country back on the path to civilian rule?