Russia Blocks UN support for ECOWAS Sanctions on Mali

Russia and China have blocked the United Nations Security Council from supporting a decision by the Economic Community of West African States to impose new sanctions on Mali, after its military leaders proposed staying in power for up to five years before staging elections.
Kenya’s ambassador to the UN, Martin Kimani, said he was disappointed that the council could not agree on what he called a relatively mild press statement and expressed support for the imposition of sanctions on the military authorities in Mali to ensure an expedited transition to constitutional rule.
A French-drafted council statement endorsing the sanctions failed to be approved in closed-door consultations on Tuesday, prompting three African council members, Kenya, Ghana and Gabon to speak to newsmen to back the regional bloc’s position
Recall that on Sunday, leaders from the ECOWAS suspended most commerce and financial aid to Mali, closed land and air borders.