The recent developments in Mali have led to multilateral contact between the military junta and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), although the desired results including the socio-economic well-being of the Malians have not been achieved.

Amid the stand-off between the Malian military junta and ECOWAS, many Malian nationals are concerned about their welfare.

ECOWAS, which announced a general embargo on Mali on Monday, has warned that it will not lift sanctions unless the country returns to the constitutional order.

However, the National Committee for the Redressment of Democracy and Restoration of the State (CNRDRE), or the junta, announced the organization of a national conference that will begin on April 5, instead of returning immediately to the constitutional order.

According to the junta, the recommendations of this convention "will define what is good for Mali."

Meanwhile, as the situation continues to unfold, it is the ordinary people who are suffering. the junta seems to be aware of this in comments made by Capt. Amadou Sanogo, the CNRDRE president.

"Mali is not in a position to support these measures at a time when her economy is still very fragile, with this crisis in the north which was brought about by the laxity and poor management of a few people and now is causing the suffering of many Malian people," Sanogo said on Tuesday.

Already, panic was evident in the Malian capital on Tuesday morning, the second day of the sanctions. Most residents of the capital rushed to the gas stations to get some fuel, while expressing their anxiety for the coming days.

However, Mali's Customs Director Modibo Maiga reassured the public that petroleum products and other merchandise were in the process of being imported to Mali, so that life can go on as usual and his fellow citizens do not suffer the consequences of the sanctions.

At the same time, Sanogo has asked his fellow citizens not to panic.

"We ask you not to panic because Mali is going through what she is not supposed to and it's only you who will be able to end what the country is going through by speaking with one voice to express your desire to see a better Mali," the head of the junta said.

One question that most observers are asking is whether the Malian people will be able to survive the effects of the sanctions imposed on their country.

Speaking of the conciliation of ideas, the visions of the two camps, both the junta and ECOWAS, have not crossed despite their willingness to meet.

Regarding this issue, the director of the office of the CNRDRE president, Moussa Sinko Coulibaly, announced that the CNRDRE will continue holding mediation talks led by Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore on Wednesday at the Kati base, where the junta is headquartered.

He also said the junta had sent a mission to Nigeria on Tuesday.

ECOWAS has insisted that Mali should return to the constitutional order and given the absence of the president of the republic, power should be handed to the parliament speaker in conformity to article 36 of the Constitution, which was adopted on Feb. 25, 1992.

In reply, Sanogo said, "Yes, we can return to a constitutional order, but with a new Mali. Those who were supposed to play their responsibility using the Constitution unfortunately chose to participate in the chaotic situation that has been going on in this country. The same Constitution also stipulated that the former regime should be removed if it continued to govern poorly," he insisted.

Given this stand, it is clear that the military junta is not ready to hand over power to Prof. Dioncounda Traore, the speaker of parliament.

The junta has also raised the possibility of "prosecuting former president Amadou Toumani Toure for high treason and financial embezzlement."

The director of the office of the CNRDRE president said the prosecution could be spread to other personalities who served under the former regime.

In another development, the northern part of Mali is under the control of separatist Tuareg rebels. The worst is that the crisis in the north has taken another turn.

According to the inhabitants of Gao, besides looting from hospitals, pharmacies and shops, several women have also been raped following the attacks in the town.

As the general situation in Mali has been worsening since the March 22 coup, most Malians are looking to the international community for the restoration of normal life and territorial integrity.