Mali declares ECOWAS special representative 'persona non grata'

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - Mali on Monday ordered the expulsion of the special representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

"On Monday 25 October 2021, the special representative of ECOWAS in Mali was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where he was notified of the decision of the government of the Republic of Mali declaring him [persona non grata] in view of his actions incompatible with his status," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry did not provide further details on the actions but reported that "several warnings" had previously been addressed to Hamidou Boly through his hierarchy. The diplomat of Burkinabe nationality has been accredited to Mali since 2019.

The transitional government has given him 72 hours to leave the country.

The Malian government also said it is available "to maintain dialogue" with ECOWAS and to work with it for the success of the transition and the consolidation of efforts to strengthen sub-regional integration, this "in a spirit of solidarity, complementarity, mutual respect and sincerity," the ministerial statement said.

The decision comes a day after the end of a 48-hour visit by a UN delegation to Mali. The evolution of the transition was the main point of the meeting with Malian leaders.