Situation in Niger After Military Coup
On July 26, Niger's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The guard's commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the country's new leader.

Sanctions on Niger Are 'Inhumane, Unjust': Prime Minister

© AFP 2023 -Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine speaks during a press conference in Niamey on September 4, 2023.
Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine speaks during a press conference in Niamey on September 4, 2023.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 27.10.2023
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A coup took place in Niger in July. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his guard, General Tchiani. Later, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to suspend all cooperation with Niger and sanctioned the country by banning the import of medicine and food and cutting off electricity.
The sanctions imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are unjust and that no other country in the world has experienced such "injustice," said Niger's Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine in an interview with British media.

"The injustice of these countries has never been done to any other country in the world, like the sanctions that were imposed on us to prevent the importation of medicines, food and cutting off electricity," said the prime minister.

According to the official, these sanctions are "inhumane"; he compared the situation in the country, which is fighting jihadist groups, to other states at war that have not been sanctioned in this way.

"This is inhumane even in the times of war [...] Even Ukraine which is facing a war, is not cut off from anything," he pointed out.

The prime minister said that the sanctions had been imposed before Niger could say anything, but now the country was looking forward to overcoming the crisis and hoped that it would lead to the recovery of its rights.

"We are just looking to see when this injustice carried out will end [...] The peace we are looking for will return," he assured, "Let us return back to our normal life."

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According to him, although Nigeria joined the sanctions, the majority of Nigerians in the northern region of the country supported Niger.
"We expected Nigeria to side with us and condemn injustice, we expected that. However, we continue to be patient because of the fact that majority of Nigerians, in the northern region have supported us," he said.
On July 26, a coup took place in Niger, one of the countries duffering the most from jihadist activities in the Sahel region. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani.
Following the military takeover, ECOWAS suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze the assets of military leaders, and imposed a ban on commercial flights in and out of the country. The bloc also closed all borders and threatened military intervention if the military did not reinstate Bazoum. The EU followed suit, suspending development and security cooperation with Niger.
On Monday, the Council of the European Union decided to impose a framework of sanctions on those behind the military takeover, including an asset freeze, a ban on the provision of funds to individuals and entities, and a travel ban.
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