ACCRA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) late Sunday announced to ease its economic and financial sanctions on Mali.

Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, announced during the closing press conference of the 61st Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in the Ghanaian capital.

"The Malian authorities have taken steps in passing the electoral accord and also setting up a monitoring mechanism for the transition and also took steps to prepare a new constitution for the country," said Brou, adding that Mali's transition will end in March 2024 in the framework of a 24-month transition period.

He then announced that ECOWAS decided to lift all the economic and financial sanctions imposed on January 9.

"That means, essentially, the closure of the border, the freezing of financial assets. Those sanctions are lifted," he said, adding the ambassadors of ECOWAS member states to Mali will return to Mali.

"However, as the process needs to be monitored, the heads of state decided to maintain the individual sanctions, and also to maintain the suspension of Mali from the organs of ECOWAS institutions," he added.