UN chief wants civilian rule in West Africa

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on the juntas in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali to give power back to civilians. Mr Guterres met Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar on Sunday and said they agreed on the need to continue talks with the military leaders in all three countries to ensure a quick return to “constitutional order”. Coups took place in Mali in August 2020 and May last year; in Guinea last September; and in Burkina Faso in January. Mr Sall is the current chairman of the Economic Community of West African States. Ecowas imposed sanctions on Mali in January after it rejected calls for a quick return to civilian rule. Guinea and Burkina Faso could face similar action.