ECOWAS Lifts Sanctions on Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso

The Economic Community of West African States has announced the lifting of economic sanctions on Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso after an extraordinary summit held in Abuja. The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government extensively discussed the political, peace, and security situation in the region at the State House.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, declared that the suspensions were to take immediate effect following the summit. This decision comes after a period of tension within the region, prompting the need for dialogue and reconciliation.

Previously, the ECOWAS bloc, excluding Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger, imposed sanctions on Niger, including suspending financial transactions and freezing assets in external banks. The member states expressed their concerns over the situation in the region.

In a joint statement issued by the military leaders of the three nations – Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Colonel Assimi Goita of Mali, and Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani of the Niger Republic – on January 28, 2023, it was announced that the countries were withdrawing from ECOWAS. They cited reasons such as viewing ECOWAS as a threat to its member states.