• Regional body says political, targeted sanctions still in force
• Highlights possible losses to three exiting countries, citizens
Citing humanitarian considerations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday resolved to lift some of the sanctions it had imposed on Niger, Mali and Guinea, following the unconstitutional change of government in the countries.
An Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS took the decision yesterday in Abuja.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, who read the communiqué of the summit, said the review of the sanctions was predicated on the biting effects of the financial and economic sanctions on the masses, especially during the ongoing Lent and the forthcoming Ramadan.
President Bola Tinubu, speaking at the summit, asked Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to reconsider their recent decision to pull out of ECOWAS.
The organisation reiterated its call for the immediate release of Niger Republic’s ousted President Mohammad Bazoum from detention.
However, the political and targeted sanctions are still in force against the countries.
The ECOWAS had imposed a long list of sanctions on the military junta in Niger last July, following the ouster of Bazoum and his subsequent incarceration.
Mali and Burkina Faso had earlier been hit by other ranges of sanctions before the episode in Niger Republic.
The three countries announced the withdrawal of their membership of ECOWAS on January 28, 2024, alleging that the regional body had come under foreign influence, which had turned it into a threat to member-states.
They had earlier on 16th of September, 2023 announced the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States, a counter-regional organisation, said to be a mutual defense pact among the countries.
Guinea, another member-state of the ECOWAS organisation, which has been under military rule since September 2021, also experienced a panic incidence on Monday when its military ruler, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, dissolved his cabinet and ordered the borders shut.
Touray said while the political and targeted sanctions on Niger Republic remain, the regional bloc lifted some financial and economic sanctions on Guinea and some targeted sanctions on Mali.
Reading the communiqué, Touray said: “The Authority calls for the immediate release of His Excellency Mohammed Bazoom, former President of the Republic of Niger.
“The Authority also calls on the transition authorities in Niger to provide an acceptable transition timetable to the constitutional order.”
On sanctions, Touray said the Authority resolved to lift with immediate effect the following measures imposed on the Republic of Niger: “Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger to be lifted, no Fly Zone of all commercial flights to and from Niger is to be lifted and suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger is to be lifted.”
The Authority, he said, also resolved that the “freezing of all service transactions including utility services would be lifted.
“Freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central banks is to be lifted.
“Freezing of assets of Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks is to be lifted.
“Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions particularly ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and BIRD is to be lifted.
“Travel ban on the government officials and their family members is also to be lifted.
“The Authority has also resolved to lift the sanctions regarding the recruitment of Malian citizens in statutory and professional positions within ECOWAS.
“The Authority has also resolved to lift financial and economic sanctions on the Republic of Guinea.
“The Authority has also instructed the President of the Commission to invite Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Guinea to attend the technical and consultative meetings of ECOWAS as well as all security related meetings.
“The authority calls on ECOWAS institutions, member states, the United Nations Mine Action Office (UNMAO) and other regional institutions to implement this decision.”
On the withdrawal of the three countries, Touray said: “The Authority noted the notifications by the three member states within the context of Article 91 of the 1993 ECOWAS revised treaty and urged the countries to reconsider the decision in view of the benefits that the ECOWAS member states and their citizens enjoy in the community.
“The Authority expresses its concern over the socio-economic, political, security and humanitarian impact of the decision, particularly on the citizens of the three countries and on the regional integration process.
