With our correspondent in Bamako, Kaouru Magassa

Exactly one month after the heavy sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against Mali, a ministerial-level dialogue group has been established to resume dialogue. Just like an expanded working group, whose inaugural meeting was held on Tuesday, February 8.

Two visions continue to oppose each other between ECOWAS and the transitional authorities. On the Malian side, security and the implementation of reforms are set as priorities. An extension of four years to the duration of the transition has been proposed.

The deadline is too long for the sub-regional organization, which demands a rapid action plan towards a return to constitutional order to end its embargo.

Mali's ministers of Foreign Affairs, Territorial Administration and Refoundation will be at the heart of this mechanism to lead negotiations. Ghana, which chairs ECOWAS, Senegal, which chairs the African Union, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo and the United Nations are cited as participants.

Note the absence of Algeria in an individual capacity: in the immediate aftermath of the sanctions, Algiers had offered itself as a mediator between Bamako and ECOWAS. To reconcile the two parties, Algeria recommended extending the duration of the transition from 12 to 16 months.

► Also read: ECOWAS sanctions on Mali: "The impact is not immediate. If it lasts, there will be problems"