Sputnik brings you all the most recent information, major events, heroes and views, including breaking news, images, videos, analyses, and features.

ECOWAS Sanctions on Niger Are 'Illegitimate, Inhumane', Doctor Says

18:03, 20 November 2023

Samantha Arias

Writer

All materials

In late July, after undergoing a military takeover, Niger became subject to a number of punitive measures imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which suspended all cooperation with the state. The European Union followed suit, suspending development and security cooperation with the west african country.

Sputnik

The health sector has been the most affected by the sanctions adopted by ECOWAS against Niger, as the measures complicated the supply of medicines, Himou Boubacar from the Union of Doctors, Pharmacists and Dental Surgeons of Niger told Spuntik.

According to Boubacar, the closure of borders by the ECOWAS caused panic among the country's doctors.

Authorities even warned that stocks would run out in September, with concerns about antibiotics, anti-cancer medicine and diabetes treatments.

"The first thing that struck us as a union was the closure of borders. When borders are closed, the supply of pharmaceutical products and consumables used in the health sector is disrupted. This caused a bit of a panic," stated Himou Boubacar.

Nevertheless, Niger has managed to restore the situation by opening up a corridor to the Togolese port of Lome, allowing supplies to pass through Burkina Faso. The doctor said, however, that this doesn't make the sanctions resulting in the deprivation of medication less inhumane.

"In addition to the illegitimate nature of these sanctions, it must be said that they are inhumane. When a human being imposes sanctions to deprive his fellow man of medicine and food, that's inhumane", he says.

Sub-Saharan Africa

'Fight Against Cultural Neocolonialism': Niger Changes National Anthem

23 June 2023, 16:02

French Neocolonialism

Moreover, the doctor pointed out that ECOWAS only serves itself and the neocolonial interests of Paris. He wonders how an African institution can sanction its own members to such an extent.

"ECOWAS, through the sanctions it dares to impose on the people of Niger, is no longer an organization that works for the well-being of the African countries that make it up. Rather, it is an organization that is there to satisfy the cult of personality of its leaders and serve the neocolonialist interests of France", he said.

ECOWAS sanctions and France's mearures during the crisis have strengthened the resolve of the Niger people to fight these neocolonial strategies, accoring to Boubacar. At the end of September, President Emmanuel Macron was forced to announce the withdrawal of French forces from the country, in the face of popular discontent.

A coup took place in Niger on July 26. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his guard, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani. ECOWAS later suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened military intervention if the rebels did not reinstate Bazoum.The European Union also took measures, suspending development and security cooperation with Niger.