The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided to lift some of the sanctions previously imposed on Niger. The organization has also decided to lift its financial and economic sanctions against Guinea, ECOWAS Secretary General Omar Alieu Touré announced.
The decisions were made at an emergency ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria on Saturday.
Regarding Niger, the bloc has ordered "lifting of economic sanctions, reopening of borders and flights over the country with immediate effect."
As for Guinea, where a military coup took place in September 2021, ECOWAS reportedly decided to impose gradual sanctions in 2022.
Earlier in the day, ECOWAS Chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said that the regional bloc must consider a change of strategy towards Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which announced their withdrawal from the regional organization in late January.
"We must re-examine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order in our member states," Western media quoted Tinubu as saying from the opening of the ECOWAS leaders' meeting in Abuja. "I therefore urge them to reconsider the decision ... and not to perceive our organization as the enemy."
Community leaders met Saturday to discuss the crisis in the region, which has seen military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in recent years. In response, ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on Mali, and Niger.
In the end of January, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso declared their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States. The three countries called the grouping a "threat" to its member states and criticized it for applying "illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible" sanctions against them.
The three countries also announced the formation of a military pact, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). In mid-February, there were reports of plans by the three countries to form a confederation, but it is unclear to what extent they intend to pursue a unified policy in different areas. At the same time, all three countries continue to fight extremist terrorist groups.
The authorities of these countries have broken agreements with France on defense cooperation, its military contingents were required to leave their territory. Thus, in December 2023, the French contingent completed its withdrawal from Niger.
ECOWAS, in turn, threatened a joint regional military operation in Niger to restore constitutional order, but the operation never came to fruition.