ECOWAS Lifts Sanctions On Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that it has lifted economic and financial sanctions against Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

The three nations had been under ECOWAS sanctions since military coups took place in each country over the past two years respectively.

ECOWAS said the decision to lift sanctions was made “on humanitarian grounds” and to allow citizens to fully participate in upcoming religious holidays such as Lent and Ramadan without additional economic hardship.

The regional bloc also lifted sanctions on Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

It also decided to invite all four countries to a meeting.

ECOWAS sanctions, which included border closures and trade restrictions, had taken a toll on the heavily import-dependent economies of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

Lifting them is expected to provide some relief, especially ahead of Ramadan which starts in late March.