African Union lifts Mali’s suspension imposed in the wake of coup

The African Union had imposed sanctions after a military coup toppled the West African nation's government in August [File: Moussa Kalapo]

The African Union on Friday lifted its suspension of Mali which went into effect after a military coup toppled the West African nation’s government in August. The decision comes three days after the West African regional bloc ECOWAS announced it was ending its tough post-coup sanctions on Mali, saying it wished to back the country’s return to civilian rule. The sanctions included border closures and a ban on commercial trade and financial flows but not basic necessities, drugs, equipment to fight coronavirus, fuel or electricity. “The Peace and Security Council, in view of recent positive political developments, has decided to lift the suspension it had imposed against Mali,” the AU’s 15-member security body said in a post on Twitter.