Following the military coup in Niger Republic on July 26, 2023, which toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS imposed several sanctions on the country.

While political and targeted sanctions on Niger Republic remain in place, ECOWAS has lifted certain financial and economic sanctions on Guinea and other restrictions on Mali, marking a significant step towards regional stability.

During the extraordinary summit, ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Alieu Touray, outlined the sanctions lifted, including the reopening of land and air borders with Niger Republic and the resumption of commercial flights.

Additionally, the suspension of financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger Republic has been lifted, along with the freezing of assets and travel bans on military officials involved in the coup attempt.

Touray emphasized that the decision to ease sanctions reflects humanitarian considerations, particularly in light of the upcoming religious observances such as Lent and Ramadan.

The ECOWAS President also announced the lifting of sanctions related to the recruitment of Malian citizens in statutory and professional positions within ECOWAS, as well as financial and economic sanctions on Guinea.

Furthermore, ECOWAS instructed the invitation of Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Guinea to participate in technical and consultative meetings, signaling a renewed commitment to regional dialogue and cooperation.

The directive from ECOWAS mandates all its institutions, member states, and regional bodies to implement these decisions promptly, underscoring the collective effort towards fostering peace and stability in the West African sub-region.