Mali’s opposition parties have criticized the military government for postponing elections and has blamed them for the sanctions while many Malians have rallied behind the military junta, with nationalist messages flooding social media.
On 9 January, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Mali following a proposal by Mali’s military government—led by Colonel Assimi Goita—to stay in power until 2025 before staging elections. Goita, who first took power in a coup in August 2020 had promised to hold presidential elections, and restore the country to civilian rule by February 2022.
Following the sanctions, the Mali’s military government urged Malians to take to the streets on 14 January to protest...
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