The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) leaders met for a summit in Nigeria’s capital Abuja with the region in crisis after coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger since 2020 and two attempted coups elsewhere in recent weeks.
At Sunday’s summit, Ecowas decided to set up a committee of leaders from Togo, Sierra Leone and Benin to engage the Niger junta to agree “on a short transition roadmap” and work “towards the speedy restoration of constitutional order”.
Niger in July became the latest member to undergo a coup when soldiers from the presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum.
Ecowas commission President Omar Touray said the committee would engage with Niger regime’s CNSP leadership to decide on progress towards a transition and other conditions for lifting sanctions.
“Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the committee of heads of state with the (Niger junta) the authority will progressively ease the sanctions imposed on Niger,” Ecowas said.
Credit: rfi
