Niger Appeals to West Africa's Court to Lift Coup Sanctions

Government cites severe societal hardship as ECOWAS protests against the request, court adjourns until December 7

Niger's military government has asked West Africa's regional court to order the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country by its neighbours following a July coup that deposed elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
The sanctions, imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other countries including the United States, have caused significant hardship in Niger, affecting all sectors of society.
Sanctions include the closure of borders, suspension of financial transactions, freezing of Niger's assets in external banks, and withholding of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.
The government's lawyers argue that the sanctions are causing severe harm, with children unable to return to school due to limited supplies, drug stores running out of supplies, and businesses shutting down due to rising costs.
ECOWAS has protested against the government's request to relax the sanctions, with the court adjourning until December 7.