The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resolved to lift some sanctions on Niger Republic, Mali and Guinea.
The resolution was taken at the extraordinary summit on the peace, political and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on Saturday.
While the regional bloc said the political and targeted sanctions on Niger Republic remain, it lifted some financial and economic sanctions on Guinea and some targeted sanctions on Mali.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso had in January, 2024 announced that they were quitting ECOWAS because of sanctions imposed by the bloc because of the military juntas.
However, the three countries had on January 28, 2024, announced the withdrawal of their membership of the ECOWAS organization, alleging that the regional body had come under foreign influence, had turned it into a threat to member-states.
They had also on the 16th of September, 2023, announced the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States, a counter-regional organization, said to be a mutual defense pact among the countries.
Guinea, another member-state of the ECOWAS organization, which has been under a military rule since September 2021, also experienced a panic incidence on Monday when its Military Ruler, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, dissolved his cabinet and ordered borders shut.
He 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.
Touray said the decision is based on humanitarian considerations especially because of the month of Lent and the approaching month of Ramadan.
In the communique as read by ECOWAS Commission’s President, the Authority demanded the release of former President Mohammad Bazoum.
“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 is to 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 President of the ECOWAS Commission said: “This decision is based on humanitarian considerations especially as we are in the month of lent and as we prepare for the holy month of Ramadan.
