04/02/2022 (Agence Europe) – The sanctions announced by the EU against those who hinder or have hindered the political transition in Mali - a country that has seen two coups in nine months - were finalised on Friday 4 February (see EUROPE 12883/21). The written procedure for their adoption has been launched by the EU27 Ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) (see EUROPE 12882/26). They were due to enter into force upon publication in the Official Journal of the EU on Friday evening. These targeted sanctions (‘restrictive measures’ in EU terminology) consist of travel bans and asset freezes on five military personnel close to the ruling Colonel Assimi Goïta or members of the M5-RFP, namely Malick Diaw, Ismaël Wagué, Choguel Maïga, Ibrahim Ikassa Maïga and Adama Ben Diarra, known by the pseudonym ‘Ben Le Cervau’. (AN)