The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted the economic sanctions on Niger, Mali and Burkina-Faso with immediate effect.
This followed hour-long deliberations by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at an extraordinary summit on the political, peace, and security situation in the region at the State House, Abuja on Saturday.
Announcing the Authority’s resolutions, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, said it has suspended the closure of the land and air border to Niger, a no-fly zone of all commercial flights.
It has also suspended the freezing of all financial transactions between ECOWAS states and Niger, including transactions relating to the bloc’s central bank and the unfreezing of all of Niger’s assets at EBID.
Egalitarian Voice reported that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic on Sunday, January 28, quit their membership of ECOWAS.
The three countries, which are under military rule, said they ceased to be members of ECOWAS as the regional body had allegedly “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism.”
But the ECOWAS Commission, in a swift reaction, said it was not aware of the withdrawal of the three countries, adding that “Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority.”
Checks by the Nation on ECOWAS’ website shows that the three countries are still listed as members of the bloc.
Here is the full list of ECOWAS countries.
1. BENIN
2. BURKINA FASO
3. CABO VERDE
4. CÔTE D’IVOIRE
5. THE GAMBIA
6. GHANA
7. GUINEA
8. GUINEA BISSAU
9. LIBERIA
10. MALI
11. NIGER
12. NIGERIA
13. SENEGAL
14. SIERRA LEONE
15. TOGO
