AU slaps sanctions on Mali coup leaders

The African Union (AU) on Tuesday imposed sanctions on Mali’s military coup leader and his allies, who are preventing a return to constitutional order in the West African nation.

“(The African Union decides) to impose with immediate effect a travel ban and assets freeze on the leader of the military junta, as well as entities contributing to impeding the return of constitutional order in Mali,” Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, told journalists following a meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Lamamra also said the AU endorsed the decision by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states to activate their standby force.