LETTER: SA should support sanctions against Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger

Salif Kobena claims that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger decided to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (“Ecowas no longer guided by founding principles,” February 7).

To the contrary, this was only the decision of three military juntas, which had overthrown the democratically elected governments representing the people of those three countries. Would Kobena like it if a junta overthrew the elected government of his Ivory Coast?

Ecowas, and the AU, are obligated by their founding treaties and charters to support elections, democracy and good governance. The juntas have committed high treason, which should be punished by life imprisonment. This would also serve as a deterrent to other armies not to try to overthrow elected governments in other African countries.

The Ecowas sanctions against those three juntas should be supported by SA, the Southern African Development Community and the AU. This would help end the plague of coups in African countries.

Keith Gottschalk
Claremont

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