ECOWAS Court Rejects Niger's Request to Lift Sanctions, Deems Junta Unconstitutional

The ruling complicates efforts to resolve the political crisis in Niger, with the junta's proposed three-year timeline for a return to civilian rule rejected by ECOWAS.

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has rejected Niger's request for a lifting of coup-related sanctions, ruling that the junta is unconstitutional and lacks the authority to make such a request.
Following the July coup that toppled Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS imposed sanctions including shutting borders with Niger, suspending financial transactions and freezing Niger's assets.
Niger's junta, which has appointed a prime minister, has set a possible three-year timeline to return power to civilians, a proposal that ECOWAS has rejected.
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, who has emerged as a mediator between Niger and the regional bloc, was visiting Niger ahead of an ECOWAS summit scheduled to discuss the coup in Niger and other political crises across West Africa.
Niger’s deposed president, Bazoum, is still detained by the junta. ECOWAS has demanded his unconditional release and reinstatement as one of the conditions for lifting the sanctions.