I join leaders of ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, and the United States in expressing deep concern over the military coup of 25 May in Mali and the subsequent detention of President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.
Together with continuing unrest in Chad, the events which unfolded in Mali last week have the potential to destabilise the country further and will have repercussions in the broader Sahel and Central African regions.
Along with other governments in the region, the Government of Mali has committed to implementation of the EITI Standard as a means of improving the management of extractive resources. Its natural resource endowment, if well governed, can make a significant contribution to lifting the country out of poverty. Recent events, however, seem likely to delay the introduction of planned legislation and undermine inclusive governance processes, such as EITI implementation which seeks to ensure that all citizens benefit from the country's natural resources.
We urge all stakeholders to exercise restraint and urge the implementation of civilian rule supported by inclusive governance. The Government had hitherto committed to complete the agreed 18-month transition for returning to an elected government by February 2022. It should keep that commitment.
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