For the archive: EU sanctions against members of the government of Mali

The currently tense situation between the transitional government in Mali and the western troop providers in the country is now getting worse, this time from the side of the European Union: All EU foreign ministers agreed on sanctions against five leading members of the transitional government, who were seized by a coup in the country power had come. The so-called restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions and the freezing of funds and economic resources.

The corresponding regulation was published on Friday (today) in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is striking that the head of the Malian junta and interim president of the country, Colonel Assimi Goïta, is not affected by these sanctions. According to the EU, the measures are aimed at individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of Mali or for obstructing or undermining the successful conclusion of Mali's political transition.

The sanctions are primarily based on the postponement of the mandatory transfer of power to civilian authorities after the 2020 military coup. The transitional government had postponed the associated presidential elections from this year to the end of 2025.

Specifically mentioned in the EU decision

• Choguel Maïga, since June 2021 Prime Minister of Mali's transitional government, installed after the coup of 24 May 2021

• Colonel Malick Diaw, President of the National Transitional Council (Conseil national de transition/CNT) since December 2020

• Colonel-Major Ismaël Wagué, Minister of Reconciliation in the caretaker government, one of the actors in the coup and a key member of Colonel Assimi Goïta's inner circle. He was spokesman for the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP)

• Ibrahim Ikassa Maïga , Minister of Refoundation, Member of the Strategic Committee of the M5-RFP (June 5th Movement – ​​Assembly of Patriotic Forces) and organizer of the National Refoundation Conference (ANR)

• Adama Ben Diarra, also known as “Camarade Ben Le Cerveau” (“Comrade Ben the Brain”), one of the young leaders of the M5-RFP (Mouvement du 5 juin – Rassemblement des forces patriotiques, Movement of June 5) Strategy Committee – Union of Patriotic Forces), which played a key role in overthrowing President Keita. Adama Ben Diarra has also been a member of the National Transitional Council since December 3, 2021

For the time being, the prime minister and Diarra, who according to EU information have a Schengen visa, are likely to be specifically affected by European travel restrictions.

The sanctions come at a time when tensions are increasing, especially with the former colonial power France, but also with other western nations. In Germany, therefore, the debate has flared up as to whether the deployment of the Bundeswehr in the West African country should be continued. The Bundeswehr is currently involved in the UN mission MINUSMA with around 1,170 and in the EU training mission EUTM Mali with almost 330 soldiers. The mandates for both German foreign assignments expire in May.

Katja Keul, Green Party politician and Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, was therefore in Mali this week to visit the Bundeswehr, but also to hold political talks with the transitional government. Foreign Office spokeswoman Andrea Sasse was not able to announce any results on Friday - here are her statements and those of Deputy Government Spokesman Wolfgang Büchner and Colonel Arne Collatz from the Ministry of Defence:

Question: Are there any insights or conclusions from Minister of State Keul's visit to Mali? How did the talks with the interim government go?

Sasse: I can't tell you anything about it at this point. Mr. Burger had announced the visit of Minister of State Keul to Mali and, together with Mr. Collatz, commented in detail on the situation in Mali on Wednesday. The aim of Ms. Keul's trip – I think Mr Burger also made this clear – is to meet with the Bundeswehr contingents. She is also holding talks with civil society on the ground and, of course, with representatives of the transitional government. She also published a statement herself before leaving. The aim of the entire trip is - and I would like to make this clear once again at this point - to clarify our expectations of the Malian government, including the improvement of relations with France.

Question: Mr. Büchner, what is the Chancellor's position on Mali? I understood the Foreign Minister to mean that she could definitely consider withdrawing the Bundeswehr troops; I understood the Minister of Defense to mean that the Bundeswehr should stay there. What is the Chancellor's position?

Büchner: The chancellor and the foreign minister don't have any different assessments. The Federal Government is watching developments in Mali with growing concern. Ms. Baerbock also made a clear statement on this, and the Federal Government has nothing to add to that.

Collatz: Because you mentioned it in your question: Minister Lambrecht made it clear that she rejects the automatic withdrawal of German troops. However, she did make it clear that she clearly shares the Foreign Minister's assessment in her attitude and assessment of the situation of the contingent in Mali and that she has a common picture of the situation. The only thing she rejects is an automatism to automatically withdraw the contingent when Russian forces appear in a country of operations.

Question: Who from the interim government will Minister of State Keul meet?

Sasse: I can't give you any information on that at the moment. The Minister of State's trip is still ongoing. We'll be happy to report back after the trip.

The backup copy of the publication in the EU Official Journal: 20220204_Amtsblatt_EU_Sanktionen_Mali

(Archive picture November 2021: Captain Manuel H., head of the infantry course, talks to trainers from his team during the training of the Malian 215th motorized infantry company as part of the European training mission EUTM Mali in SéŽgou/Mali – Markus Bayer/Bundeswehr)