The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced sanctions against Niger, including the closure of its airspace and the suspension of trade exchanges, in response to the recent military coup.
During a meeting attended by representatives of the member states and the African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki, ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou stated, “President Mohamed Bazoum remains the legitimate president of Niger, and we urge the authorities to restore constitutional order within one week.”
ECOWAS comprises 15 member states, including Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo.
Earlier, military forces in Niger announced the ousting of Bazoum, imposed border closures and implemented a curfew.
The military issued a statement expressing “support for the coup” and warned that “any external military intervention by any party would have serious consequences that cannot be controlled and would lead to chaos in the country.”
Ahead of today’s summit, Nigerian military leaders issued a televised statement yesterday, warning against any foreign military intervention in their country.
It’s worth noting that the European Union and France declared yesterday the suspension of financial support to Niger, while the United States pledged to restore constitutional order after military leaders announced the overthrow of the elected President Mohamed Bazoum last week.
