ECOWAS lifts sanctions on Niger; to restore electricity, air travel

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted a number of sanctions placed on Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso. 

This came after the military took control of the countries.

The request to lift the sanctions was made by Nigeria and adopted by the West African leaders at the extraordinary summit on the peace, political and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region held on Saturday in Abuja.

Recall that Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced last month that they were quitting ECOWAS because of sanctions imposed by the bloc because of the military juntas.

In July 2023, the regional bloc imposed sanctions on Niger following a coup that toppled the country’s President Mohamed Bazoum.

It also shut borders with the country and suspended financial transactions and froze Niger’s assets.

Specifically, Nigeria cut off power that was supplied to the neighbouring country by 70 per cent.

However, the West African leaders said it would now reverse the measures by opening borders and lifting the freeze on financial transactions in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, including Mali.

Ibrahim Ibrahim

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