ECOWAS Lifts Sanctions on Niger Following Political Changes

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided to lift all sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger, including the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger. 

These sanctions were initially put in place in response to a military takeover that ousted the democratically elected President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, last year.

Related To This: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Withdraw from ECOWAS

The sanctions had isolated Niger from its traditional trading partners, exacerbating food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Despite this, the junta in power maintained close ties with neighboring countries Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, viewing them as allies due to their shared military rule status.

During an extraordinary summit held in Abuja, Nigeria on February 24, 2024, to address political, peace, and security issues in the ECOWAS sub-region, the Heads of ECOWAS member states unanimously agreed to lift the sanctions on Niger with immediate effect. 


The meeting, chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, was attended by several regional leaders, including those from Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Togo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. The Gambia, Cabo Verde, and Liberia were also represented at the summit.

Related To This: ECOWAS Mediator Denies Accusations of Ecowas Under Foreign Influence

The lifted sanctions include the institution of a no-fly zone for commercial flights to and from Niger within ECOWAS airspace, suspension of commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger, freezing of service transactions such as utility services and electricity to Niger Republic, freezing of assets of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks, freezing of assets of Niger State enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks, suspension of Niger from financial assistance and transactions with institutions like EBID and BOAD.

Additionally, ECOWAS has removed the travel ban on government officials and their family members as part of the sanctions relief measures.

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