Mali has declared January 14, 2023, as a “non-working day” in celebration of the first edition of the National Day of Recovered Sovereignty, in memory of the great mobilization of January 14, 2022, against the sanctions imposed on Mali by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
As a matter of fact, the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided on 9 January 2022 to impose economic and financial sanctions against Mali, accused of wanting to delay the transition. These ECOWAS sanctions were lifted on 4 July 2022.
According to the government, “this day aims to strengthen patriotic feeling and to defend the recovered sovereignty of Mali, which is now based on the three principles defined by the President of the Transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, in accordance with the vision of the Malian people”.
The celebration of this first edition was marked, among other things, by activities in schools on the themes of sovereignty and patriotism, as well as conference debates.