The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed to immediately impose additional sanctions on Mali and its transitional government after Malian officials stated that the country will be unable to conduct elections in February 2022 as authorities originally agreed to do. Members of the 15-nation regional bloc agreed to close their land and air borders with Mali and suspend non-essential financial transactions. Additionally, Mali will be suspended from accessing regional financial markets and all 15 nations have agreed to recall their ambassadors. ECOWAS did not provide a starting date regarding when the sanctions would take effect. Mali’s transitional government suggested elections be held in December 2025 due to regional insecurity and the lack of election-related infrastructure.