The office of Mali’s interim president Bah Ndaw said Thursday that West African leaders may lift economic sanctions imposed against the country after a military coup in August.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions and shut borders to press the country to name interim civilian leaders after former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was toppled on August 18.

In response, the junta-appointed retired colonel Ndaw as interim president and charged him with the mandate to led Mali to election during an 18 month long transition.

Abdullahi Hassan reports.