The Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) is calling on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reconsider the sanctions it imposed on Mali during its extraordinary summit held on January 9 in Accra, Ghana.

The sanctions, which include the closing of borders between ECOWAS member states and Mali, the suspension of all commercial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Mali and the freezing of Mali’s assets in central banks and commercial organisations of ECOWAS have encumbered the workers and people of Mali. This situation has further been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated challenges.

In this light, OATUU is calling for ‘peaceful and realistic dialogue between the member countries of ECOWAS and the government of Mali in order to ensure the return of Mali to constitutional order within a reasonable time’.

Find the full statement below.