Two-year move to democracy for Mali junta

The West African country's military leaders have been under pressure to restore democracy since they toppled the government and reneged on a promise to hold elections in February, prompting sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

"The duration of the transition is set at 24 months," the transitional government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga said on national television, referencing a start date of March 26, 2022.

Maiga said the decree followed an "advanced stage of negotiations with ECOWAS" and Mali hoped sanctions would be lifted.

"The adoption of this decree is proof of the willingness of (Malian) authorities to dialogue with ECOWAS," he said.

Mali's coup leaders have been at odds with regional heads of state over a proposed five-year election timeline that was then revised to two - a delay previously rejected as too long by ECOWAS.

The length of the transition has also caused a rift with Mali's partners including the United States and former colonial power France.

Maiga said the ECOWAS mediator on the crisis, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, and heads of state had been informed of the 24-month decree.

"We are hopeful ... the sanctions will be lifted imminently," he said, adding an electoral timeline would follow.

West African heads of state met in Ghana's capital Accra over the weekend to discuss the situation and agreed not to lift sanctions, which include border closures and restrictions on financial transactions, unless interim leaders proposed a shorter transition.

The leaders are expected to convene for another summit before July 3.

Military governments in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Guinea are facing similar threats from ECOWAS for dragging their feet on democratic transitions.

Australian Associated Press