The Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced this Sunday the lifting of financial sanctions against Guinea-Conakry and restrictions on Mali, following the announcement on Saturday of the lifting of most sanctions against Niger.
According to a statement published this Sunday and quoted by AFP, ECOWAS declares to “lift financial and economic sanctions directed against the Republic of Guinea” and “to lift restrictions on the recruitment of citizens of the Republic of Mali to positions in ECOWAS institutions.”
Burkina Faso, which is among the four states ruled by military regimes since 2020 and also subject to Community sanctions, is not mentioned in the regional body’s final statement.
ECOWAS convened an extraordinary summit on Saturday to discuss “politics, peace and security in the Niger Republic” as well as “recent developments in the region.”
The lifting of sanctions against Guinea-Conakry and Mali was not mentioned in ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Toure’s closing speech late Saturday.
In Guinea-Conakry, the West African bloc banned financial transactions with its member institutions a year after Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya took power and ousted President Alpha Condé from governing in September 2021.
On Monday, the head of the military junta announced by decree the dissolution of the government, which has been in force since July 2022.
In Mali, which saw two coups in 2020 and 2021, the regional bloc imposed economic and financial sanctions, which it lifted in July 2022 when the ruling junta announced a transition timetable.
ECOWAS has “decided to immediately lift” the heaviest sanctions imposed on Niger since the military regime seized power in Niamey and ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July, Omar Aliyeh Touray announced on Saturday.
Niger’s borders and airspace will be reopened, financial transactions between ECOWAS countries and Niger will be re-allowed, and Niger’s state assets will be unfrozen “on humanitarian grounds”, the spokesman said.
Niamey’s military leaders are also allowed to travel again, but “individual and political sanctions” remain in place, Omar Aliyeh Touray said.
The decisions mark a move by ECOWAS to resume dialogue with the three military regimes, while Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which have distanced themselves from France and moved closer to Russia, announced in January their intention to leave ECOWAS.
The three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), created in September 2023.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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