Abstract
Mali’s history of coups is rooted in unresolved political and governing issues that have continued for decades, such as bad governance, corruption, and a failing economy. The sanctions imposed on Mali by ECOWAS were justified under Article 2 of the Supplementary Act A/SP.2/08/11 on Sanctions Against Member States, but some of the dividend including a devastating impact on innocent civilians has resulted in an unproductive outcome. This discussion explores the impact of economic sanctions on Mali and its historical roots of political instability. The chapter questions the use of sanctions against states, calling for a revised to limit the negative impact, such as in Mali. The chapter further argues that RECs such as ECOWAS should go a step further to ensure democracy is not only restored but maintained by addressing the root causes of coups. By addressing these underlying issues and promoting resilient, democratic institutions, Mali can build a sustainable future that is free from political instability and coups.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
African Businesses. (2022). ECOWAS Slaps Sanctions on Mali’, African Businesses, 14 January. https://african.business/2022/01/trade-investment/ecowas-imposes-sanctions-on-mali
Ahmed, B. (2022). Leader of Mali’s Junta Signs Election Law Letting Him Run, The Associated Press, 25 June. https://apnews.com/article/africa-elections-presidential-mali-west-3bb6b8df5ccf273e50f7d2098d3e539c
Al Jazeera. (2021). Mali’s Military Detains President, Prime Minister. Al Jazeera, 24 May. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/24/military-arrest-malis-president-pm-following-govt-reshuffle
Al Jazeera. (2022). Malians Rally after Army Calls for Protests over ECOWAS Sanctions, January 14. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/14/malians-rally-after-army-calls-protests-over-ecowas-sanctions
Amidou, S. (2021). Exploring the Humanitarian Impacts of Economic Sanctions in Mali’. Journal of Humanitarian Affairs, 2(1), 11–26.
Aubyn, E. (2022a). Mali: ECOWAS Sanctions and their Impact on Ordinary Civilians. African Affairs, 121(482), 243–262.
Aubyn, F. K. (2022b). ECOWAS Sanctions Against Mali Necessary, But May be Counter-Productive. Global Observatory. https://theglobalobservatory.org/2022/02/ecowas-sanctions-against-mali-necessary-but-may-be-counter-productive/
Baker, K. M., Clark, A., & Imperato, P. J. (2021). Mali, Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mali
Barber, J. (2002). Mugabe’s Demise: The Role of Sanctions. African Affairs, 101(405), 305–324.
BBC News. (2013). Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Wins Mali Presidential Election, 13 August. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-23677124
BBC News. (2020). Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Freed in Mali after Coup, 28 August. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53941532
BBC News. (2023). Assimi Goïta: President Gets Sweeping Powers in New Mali Constitution, BBC News, April 23. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66282417
Biersteker, T. J., & van Bergeijk, P. A. (2015a). Economic Sanctions and International Relations Theory. In E. L. Farnsworth & E. R. Lachapelle (Eds.), Economic Sanctions in International Relations. Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Biersteker, T. J., & van Bergeijk, P. A. G. (2015b). How and When do Economic Sanctions Work? In S. Bazoobandi, T. J. Biersteker, R. Connolly, F. Giumelli, C. Portela, S. Secrieru, P. Seeberg, & P. A. G. van Bergeijk (Eds.), On Target? EU Sanctions as Security Tools. European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS). https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep07074.6?seq=2
Briceño-Garmendia, C. M., Dominguez, C., & Pushak, N. (2011). Mali Infrastructure: A Continental Perspective. Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD) Country Report, The World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/27311
Brookings Institution. (2021). The Economic Effects of Political Instability in Africa, 09 February. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/02/09/the-economic-effects-of-political-instability-in-africa/
Deutsche Welle. (2022). ECOWAS: West African Bloc Lifts Mali Economic Sanctions, 7 April. https://www.dw.com/en/ecowas-west-african-bloc-lifts-mali-economic-sanctions/a-62345656
Dietz, C. (2022). How Will Sanctions on Mali Affect the West Africa region? 2 March, African Business. https://african.business/2022/03/trade-investment/coups-and-sanctions-in-the-sahel-and-west-africa-what-you-need-to-know/
Duzor, M., & Williamson, B. (2022). By Numbers Coups in Africa. VOA News, 2 February. https://projects.voanews.com/african-coups/
ECOWAS. (2020). ECOWAS Condemns Military Coup in Mali, Demands Release of President Boubacar Keita. https://www.ecowas.int/ecowas-condemns-military-coup-in-mali-demands-release-of-president-boubacar-keita/
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2021). Amadou Toumani Touré, Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amadou-Toumani-Toure
Escribà-Folch, A., & Wright, J. (2010). Dealing with Dictators: The Impact of US Policy on Democratization in Authoritarian Regimes. International Studies Quarterly, 54(2), 335–359.
France24. (2012). Mali Sanctions Lifted as Junta Agrees to Step Aside. 08 April. https://www.france24.com/en/20120408-ecowas-mali-embargo-sanctions-lift-junta-restores-constitutional-rule-elections.
Ghodoosi, F. (2015). The Sanctions Theory: A Frail Paradigm for International Law?. Harvard International Law Journal.
Global Security. (2021). Tuareg – Mali, Global Security. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/tuareg-mali.htm
Hanania, R. (2020). The Impact of Sanctions on Authoritarian Regimes: Conventional and Unconventional Wisdom. Security Studies, 29(2), 234–267.
Hayden, S. (2022). Sanctions on Mali Could Have ‘Devastating Impact’, Warn NGOs, The Irish Times, 19 January. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/sanctions-on-mali-could-have-devastating-impact-warn-ngos-1.4780631
Human Rights Watch. (1997). Transition or Travesty Nigeria’s Endless Process of Return to Civilian Rule, 24 October. https://www.hrw.org/report/1997/10/24/transition-or-travesty/nigerias-endless-process-return-civilian-rule
Imperato, P. J. (2018). Mali a Search for Direction. Routledge.
Institute for Security Studies. (2021). A New Coup Derails Mali’s Transition. Institute for Security Studies, 31 May. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-new-coup-derails-malis-transition
International Crisis Group. (2021). Mali, a Coup within a Coup. International Crisis Group, 27 May. https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/sahel/mali/mali-un-coup-dans-le-coup
Keita, K. & Henk, D. (1998). Conflict and Conflict Resolution in The Sahel: The Tuareg Insurgency in Mali. Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep11304#metadata_info_tab_contents
Logistics Clusters. (2022). Mali Ports of Dakar, Abidjan, Tema, Lome, Conakry, Logistics Clusters. https://dlca.logcluster.org/fr/21-mali-ports-de-dakar-abidjan-tema-lome-conakry
Maianhi, D. (2022). Malians Don’t Deserve to be Sanctioned. Independent Online (IOL), 13 November. https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/opinion/malians-dont-deserve-to-be-sanctioned-d423ae7c-cef5-400f-b853-994b300b1689
Marinov, N., & Nili, M. (2014). Sanctions and Democratization in the Post-Cold War Era. International Interactions, 40(2), 240–271.
Mwai, P. (2022). Are Military Takeovers on the Rise in Africa?, BBC News, 2 February. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46783600
Panchia, Y. (2022). Mali Sanctions Bite Deeply as Ordinary Citizens Affected Most, Forbes Africa, 28 February. https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2022/02/15/mali-sanctions-bite-deeply-as-ordinary-citizens-affected-most/
Peksen, D. (2009). Better or Worse? The Effect of Economic Sanctions on Human Rights. Journal of Peace Research, 46(1), 59–77.
Relief Web. (2022) New Sanctions Risk Plunging the People of Mali Further into a Humanitarian Crisis, Warn 13 NGOs, 9 January. https://reliefweb.int/report/mali/new-sanctions-risk-plunging-people-mali-further-humanitarian-crisis-warn-13-ngos
Shipley, T. (2017). Mali: Overview of Corruption and Anti-corruption, U4 Helpdesk Answer. https://www.u4.no/publications/mali-overview-of-corruption-and-anti-corruption.pdf
Soest, C. V., & Wahman, M. (2010). Economic Sanctions and the Dynamics of Democratization. Conflict Management and Peace Science, 27(3), 225–243.
The Associated Press. (1993). Nigerian Military Leader Ousts Interim President, 18 November, New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/18/world/nigerian-military-leader-ousts-interim-president.html
Transparency International. (2021). Corruption Perception Index 2020. https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020/index/nzl
World Bank. (2022). 4.1 World Development Indicators: Growth of Gross Domestic Product. http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/4.1
World Bank. (2023). World Development Indicators. https://databank.worldbank.org/reports.aspx?source=2&series=SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS&country=MLI#advancedDownloadOptions
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Maianhi, D., Liaga, E.A. (2024). The Impact of Economic Sanctions as a Response to Coups in Africa: Case of Mali. In: Akinola, A. (eds) The Resurgence of Military Coups and Democratic Relapse in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51019-9_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51019-9_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-51018-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-51019-9
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)