Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided, in a Communiqué issued on September 16, to impose sanctions on coup leaders in Mali (for a coup which occurred in May) and Guinea (for this month's coup). The Communiqué imposes sanctions and travel bans on members of the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD) and their families, as well as freezes their assets; it upholds the suspension of Guinea from ECOWAS governing bodies; it calls for presidential and legislative elections to be held within six months and prohibits members of the CNRD from taking part in the presidential election; and it calls on the African Union, European Union, United Nations and other actors for their support in the implementation of the sanctions.

With regard to Mali, the Communiqué notes the ECOWAS Authority's "deep concern[] about the slow pace of preparations for the elections scheduled for late February 2022" and "reiterates its demands for strict adherence to the transition timetable leading to the effective conduct of elections" by February 2022. The Authority therefore imposes sanctions on those whose actions are negatively impacting that timetable.