Malian President Assimi Goita has drawn a stark comparison between the actions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and those of terrorist organizations.
In a national address, Goita argued that the sanctions imposed on Mali by ECOWAS mirror the tactics employed by terrorist groups.
He highlighted the commonality of restricting access to a territory, preventing the entry and exit of goods and people, and blocking the delivery of essential supplies like food and medicine.
Goita pointed to the six-month period of sanctions imposed on Mali by the regional bloc as a direct example of this parallel, asserting that the only differentiating factor between ECOWAS and terrorist organizations is the possession of weapons.