ECOWAS lifts economic, travel sanctions on Mali, others

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) lifted economic sanctions on Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso on Saturday with immediate effect.

This came after hours of deliberations by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at an extraordinary summit on the region’s political, peace, and security situation held at State House in Abuja.

Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced the Authority’s resolutions, stating that it has halted the closure of the land and air border to Niger, which is a no-fly zone for all commercial planes.

It has also suspended the suspension of all financial transactions between ECOWAS states and Niger, including those involving the bloc’s central bank, and the unfreezing of all of Niger’s assets at EBID.

ECOWAS also lifted the travel ban on members of the military junta and their families.

Touray stated that the move is “based on humanitarian considerations due to lent and the approaching month of Ramadan.”

The administration also abolished restrictions on Mali citizens’ election to its offices.

It also withdrew sanctions against Guinea and invited all four countries to join future technical consultative meetings of the union.

The regional body also urged its withdrawing member nations to reconsider their choice in light of the benefits received by their citizens.