In a press release published this Sunday, February 25, ECOWAS declared
“lifting financial and economic sanctions against the
Republic of Guinea
”
and
“lifting restrictions on the recruitment of citizens of the Republic of
Mali
for positions within ECOWAS institutions
.
The regional organization had convened a new extraordinary summit on Saturday to discuss
"politics, peace and security in the Republic of Niger"
, as well as
"recent developments in the region"
.
The lifting of sanctions against Guinea and Mali was not specified during the final speech by Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission late Saturday afternoon.
Sanctions also lifted against Niger
In Guinea, ECOWAS had banned financial transactions with its member institutions a year after the coming to power of Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, who overthrew President Alpha Condé in September 2021. On Monday, the head of the junta announced by decree the dissolution of the government in office since July 2022.
In Mali, which experienced two coups d'état in 2020 and 2021, the regional bloc imposed economic and financial sanctions which it lifted in July 2022, when the ruling junta announced its transition timetable.
ECOWAS
“has decided to lift with immediate effect”
the heaviest sanctions imposed on Niger since the takeover of power in Niamey by a military regime which overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July, announced Omar Alieu Touray on Saturday afternoon .
Niger's borders and airspace will be reopened, financial transactions between ECOWAS countries and Niger will be authorized again, and Niger state assets will be thawed,
"for humanitarian reasons"
, he declared. .
Resumption of dialogue with military regimes
Military leaders in Niamey are also allowed to travel again.
“Individual and political sanctions remain in place
,” he added without giving further details.
These decisions mark a step by ECOWAS towards the resumption of dialogue with these three military regimes, while 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).
Burkina Faso, which is one of the four states led by military regimes since 2020, also subject to ECOWAS sanctions, is not mentioned in the final press release from the regional organization.