Friday, the European Union imposed, according to a statement, sanctions on five officials in Mali, including transitional Prime Minister Chogoel Koukala Maiga, accusing them of obstructing the political transition in this country ruled by a military junta.

Sanctions freeze their assets and prevent them from entering the territory of the European Union. Also, individuals and entities in the Federation are prohibited from placing funds at the disposal of the aforementioned officials.

Among them, in addition to the prime minister, are two "prominent members of close circles" of Colonel Asimi Gueta, head of the Malian Military Council, who became interim president in May 2021 after a second coup.

Malik Diaw and Ismail Waghi are considered the most prominent planners of the August 2021 coup, when the military overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, according to the sanctions decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The sanctions also targeted Ibrahim Ikasa Maiga, Minister of Reestablishment since June 2021, and Adama Ben Diarra, for playing a key role in bringing down President Keita, according to the same source.

The Economic Community of West African States had previously imposed sanctions on the five officials.

On the ninth of January, the organization targeted the authorities in Mali with a package of severe economic and diplomatic measures for the insistence of the military council to remain in power for several years and its refusal to hold elections that were scheduled for February 27 to allow the return of civilians to power.

During their meeting on January 24 in Brussels, the foreign ministers of the European Union adopted the principle of targeted sanctions, in support of those imposed by the West African Community.

Tensions escalated after the military junta expelled the French ambassador, also demanding the departure of the Danish battalion that was recently deployed in Mali. Paris has set a two-week deadline to decide with its European partners the fate of their military presence in this country with the aim of confronting the jihadists.

And the European Union's foreign minister, Josep Borrell, warned that the expulsion of the French ambassador would lead to the "isolation" of Mali, expressing "solidarity" with France and Denmark.

During his meeting with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop on January 26, Borrell noted that the European Union still hopes to stay in Mali and the Sahel, but "not at any price."

The issue of the European commitment in Mali will be raised during the European Union and African Union summit scheduled for February 17-18 in Brussels.

The Europeans are also concerned about the movements of the Russian "Wagner" group mercenaries in this region. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian considered that the increasingly isolated Malian military council no longer had "partners" other than the "Wagner" mercenaries.