ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc mentioned on Saturday (Feb 24) that it was lifting a number of the sanctions imposed on Niger following navy coup within the nation final 12 months. The bloc mentioned that the choice was being taken on humanitarian grounds and a no-fly zone, asset freezes and border closures had been being stopped “with rapid impact”.
Final 12 months, Niger’s president Mohamed Bazoum was deposed in a navy coup. This led ECOWAS (Financial Group of West African States) to impose robust sanctions and droop commerce with Niger.
On Saturday, the lifting of a number of the sanctions was introduced by ECOWAS Fee chief Omar Alieu Touray at ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
Following the Niger coup, ECOWAS had warned of navy intervention however the risk finally fizzled out. Bazoum stays jailed inside presidential palace in Niamey.
Touray mentioned that lifting of the sanctions would come with unfreezing of Niger’s property in ECOWAS central banks and resumption of economic transactions between ECOWAS and Niger.
However Touray informed AFP “particular person sanctions in addition to political sanctions stay in place in Niger… (and) in different international locations political sanctions stay”.
There are a number of opinions inside the ECOWAS as to how the grouping ought to tackle the state of affairs created by navy coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mentioned throughout the summit that the grouping ought to rethink its technique whereas coping with the state of affairs.
Tinubu — who can be head of ECOWAS — mentioned “we should re-examine our present strategy to the search for constitutional order in 4 of our member states”.
The 4 international locations have been suspended from ECOWAS following the coups. They’ve warned that they might completely withdraw from the grouping however ECOWAS has referred to as on them to not take such a step.
(With inputs from businesses)
