The sanctions have badly hit Mali, with its economy already under severe strain from military coups and a decade-long jihadist insurgency.

The financial freeze on Mali brought in by regional group ECOWAS has hit its economy hard. Key sectors like the cotton industry have been struggling to overcome the impact of the trade penalties. Also, as the excitement of the Africa Cup of Nations winds down, we head to two-time tournament hosts Gabon, where once-gleaming stadiums have fallen into disrepair. Finally, a Malawian musician finds runaway fame on TikTok at the age of 92.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Burkina Faso in response to Monday's coup that removed the democratically elected President, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. The decision was taken during a virtual extraordinary summit of heads of state of the bloc, held on Friday, January 28, 2022.

Why are Mali's neighbours coming down hard? A harsh embargo has been decided after coup leaders in that landlocked West African state reneged on their promise of a quick return to civilian rule. How harsh? We talk border closures and trade embargoes. It's not as if the region has never seen a putsch before: look no further than neighbouring Guinea.

West African leaders from ECOWAS are preparing to meet in Conakry. The influential economic bloc suspended the country after this week's military takeover and told coup leaders to release deposed president Alpha Condé. Also on the show, we take a look at how South Africa's vaccination drive is faring. And in the same country, we meet a Black Free Dive instructor who is making waves in her community.

West African leaders have said Mali must hold a presidential election in February 2022. They also called for the immediate appointment of a new civilian prime minister.

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With a 25 per cent to 40 per cent forecast decline in foreign direct investment to Africa, different countries in the region will be looking to reposition themselves to take full advantage of the low FDI flows as a source of revenue that has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Ministers from the ECOWAS region are calling for a coordinated plan to re-open cross border trading. Sam Chidoka, Managing Director and CEO of Kairos Capital joins CNBC Africa for more.

Nigeria’s President Mohammadu Buhari has expressed displeasure about Francophone West Africa’s adoption of the Eco in replacement for its CFA Franc ahead of other ECOWAS Member States. Buhari says it was a matter of concern that people with whom others wished to go into a union were taking major steps without trusting their counterparts for discussions. Tilewa Adebajo, CEO of CFG Advisory joins CNBC Africa for more.