ECOWAS declares 'freeze' of Niger within bloc

On December 14, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced that it had suspended Niger from all of the bloc's decision-making bodies, effective December 10.

Leaders of ECOWAS member countries held a summit on February 10. (Source: AFP)

Explaining this decision, ECOWAS said that the bloc considers the situation in Niger to be an attempted coup.

In a statement posted on social network X (formerly Twitter), ECOWAS stated: "The December 10 summit recognized that the government of President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a military coup. Therefore, from December 10, 2023, Niger is suspended from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until the country restores constitutional order."

Members of the government of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum are allowed to attend ECOWAS meetings, the statement said.

The coup in Niger took place on July 26. President Bazoum was overthrown and detained by his own bodyguards, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani.

ECOWAS suspended all cooperation with Niger after the military takeover, and the bloc threatened military intervention if the coup forces did not restore Mr Bazoum to office.

ECOWAS and the West African Monetary Union also suspended Niger from the regional financial market and central bank, and imposed severe economic and financial sanctions on the African country's military government.

In November, Niger's military government filed a complaint with the ECOWAS Court of Justice, arguing that sanctions, which include cuts in food and medicine supplies, have severely affected the country's population.

However, the West African court dismissed the case, saying that the military government was not a recognized government or a member of ECOWAS and therefore did not have standing to bring the case on behalf of the country of Niger.

(according to AP)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ecowas-tuyen-bo-lenh-dong-bang-niger-trong-khoi-253970.html