ECOWAS lifts certain sanctions against Guinea and Mali. Sanctions also lifted against Niger.
With these decisions, West African countries demonstrate their desire to renew dialogue with military regimes. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which notably turned their backs on France and moved closer to Russia, announced in January their intention to leave ECOWAS. The three countries have grouped together within an Alliance of Sahel States (AES), also subject to sanctions, is not mentioned in the final press release from the regional organization.