The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resolved to lift travel, commercial and Targeted economic sanctions imposed on Niger that were aimed at reversing the coup staged in the country last year.

Reading the communiqué after the extraordinary summit on the peace, political, and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on Saturday, ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Alieu Touray, announced that A no-fly zone, border closures and asset freezes were among the sanctions being stopped “with immediate effect” on “humanitarian grounds.

He noted that the authority also resolved to lift the sanctions regarding the recruitment of Malian citizens in statutory and professional positions within ECOWAS as well as lifting financial and economic sanctions on the Republic of Guinea.

(cue in: ECOWAS On Niger)

Our Correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that the concerned about the Socio-Economic implications of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Guinea from ECOWAS, Mr Touray added that he was directed by the Commission to invite the countries to attend the technical and consultative meetings of ECOWAS as well as all security-related meetings.

(cue in: ECOWAS ON OTHERS)