EU foreign ministers reiterated their support on Monday 24 January for the “very tough economic and financial sanctions” imposed by ECOWAS on Mali on 9 January for failing to respect the transition timetable, but no targeted EU sanctions against the ruling military have yet been taken.
“The postponement by four years of the elections scheduled for the end of the year and the deployment of mercenaries from the Wagner companies are unacceptable to us”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell (see EUROPE 12874/10, 12869/3).
However, for the time being, he favours the diplomatic route, with the joint meeting of the EU and G5 Sahel foreign ministers, which he has called for Wednesday 26 January in order to “send out messages”.
“No sanctions will be taken before Wednesday”, he confirmed. “The political will to apply sanctions is there, but it must be consistent with diplomatic contacts with the five G5 Sahel countries”, Borrell told the press.
In particular, the EU High Representative hopes to obtain clarification from the Malian Minister on the intentions to deploy Russian forces, the conditions under which “the mission we have in Mali” can be carried out, and “the ability of French forces and their allies to act”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)