Malians Protest United Nations Sanction

On Friday, Malians took to the streets to protest against the sanctions imposed by the West Africa bloc ECOWAS over delayed elections in the country.

Thousands of people gathered in Bamako for the protests as mass demonstrations also took place in the towns of Kadiolo and Bougouni.

Last week, ECOWAS agreed to sanction Mali, imposing a trade embargo and shutting borders in a decision later backed by France, the United States, and the European Union.

The move came after the proposal by Mali's military government planning to stay in power for up to five years before staging elections despite earlier agreeing to an election occuring in February.

And on Friday, Colonel Assimi Goita, who first took power in a coup in August 2020 also urged Malians to defend the country as he said the interim government had developed a response plan to the sanctions.

ECOWAS also halted financial aid to Mali and froze the country's assets at the Central Bank of West African States.

Mali is already beginning to feel the effects of the sanctions with several airlines, including Air France, suspending flights in the state of Bamako.

Despite the military government leading a coup on the democratic government in August 2020, many in Mali have rallied behind the military takeover, protesting against the UN sanctions.