The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Mali from all decision-making bodies of ECOWAS and placed economic and financial embargo on the country following the military takeover in the country.

Rebel soldiers had on Tuesday arrested Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse following weeks of political tension in the country.

In a statement, the Economic Community for West African States said that its members would close land and air borders to Mali and pledged to demand sanctions against “all the putschists and their partners and collaborators”.

It also said that it would suspend the country from its internal decision-making bodies.

The political disturbance unfolded months after disputed legislative elections, and came as support for Keita tumbled amid criticism of his government’s handling of a spiralling security situation in the northern and central regions that has entangled regional and international governments, as well as a United Nations mission.