LAGOS, Nigeria: The body representing western Africa nations has stripped the leader of Mali’s recent coup of his recently acquired status as a former head of state. That status was given to him in May and was one of the main bargaining chips used to force Capt. Amadou Sanogo to release his grip on power.
In a communique sent to The Associated Press late Wednesday, the regional body known as ECOWAS states that it does not recognize the military junta that led Mali’s March 21 coup “as well as the status of former head of state conferred on Capt. Amadou Sanogo.”
The status came with a salary that diplomats estimated was close to $9,000 a month. It’s unclear if the actions of ECOWAS mean that Sanogo will no longer receive his salary.
Body strips Mali leader of head of state status
