Nigeriens on Sunday welcomed the lifting of some of the sanctions that were imposed on the country by West Africa’s regional bloc following last year’s coup. The Economic Community of West African States suspended trade and imposed tough sanctions last July, after Niger’s president, Mohamed Bazoum, was ousted in a military coup. And on Saturday ECOWAS announced that it was lifting some of the sanctions, including a no-fly zone, border closures and asset freezes. The Nigerien authorities had not yet commented on the lifting of sanctions. Along with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea – which have also been rocked by coups – Niger was suspended from ECOWAS.

Source: Punch February 25, 2024 20:25 UTC