ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States has called for elections to be held in Mali within the next 12 months. Protests have occurred reportedly from 2012 and are believed to have evolved around national security issues. The reported coup earlier this month may have involved the u.n. Perhaps aimed at a measured response. Protests and violence may have been due to delegates believed to be in league with western political and corporate aims at the expense of the people. Two thousand deaths have been reported in Mali this year by an international crisis group, possibly relating to conflict, although ebola and famine are factors.