By Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-03-13 15:24:27
President Bola Tinubu has officially announced that Nigeria will be reopening its borders with Niger and lifting sanctions on its northern neighbor. This decision comes less than a year after a military coup in Niger isolated the country regionally.
The move follows the decision of the regional bloc Ecowas to lift economic sanctions against Niger’s military government, which took over and detained President Mohamed Bazoum on July 6, 2023. Tinubu confirmed the decision in compliance with the decisions made at an extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja, where Ecowas agreed to lift economic sanctions against Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
This lifting of sanctions marks a significant shift in Nigeria and Ecowas’ approach to politically and economically isolating West African military regimes that were previously deemed illegitimate. Following the coup in Niger, Ecowas had threatened military intervention and activated a standby force as a last resort if diplomatic efforts failed.
With Bazoum still detained and the country now under the leadership of military ruler General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who has pledged a return to civilian rule within three years, Ecowas and Nigeria have adjusted their strategy. The sanctions being lifted will bring an end to the Ecowas no-fly zone on commercial flights to and from Niger, allowing for the resumption of commercial and financial transactions and the unfreezing of utility services and electricity to the country.
Assets of Niger, including state enterprises and parastatals, will be unfrozen in commercial and central banks of Ecowas member states, while travel bans on government officials and their families will be lifted. Prior to the sanctions, Nigeria exported goods worth $193 million to Niger in 2022, including electricity, tobacco, and cement, while Niger’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $67.84 million in the same year, including cattle, fruit, and refined fuel.
The decision to roll back sanctions by Ecowas followed the exit of coup-hit Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the bloc in January, accusing Ecowas of betraying its founding principles and failing to address jihadist violence. Despite Tinubu advocating for a reevaluation of the approach to constitutional order in member states, there is little progress towards a return to civilian rule in the coup-afflicted countries.
In Mali, the military delayed presidential elections citing technical challenges, while Burkina Faso’s military leader expressed that elections were not a priority. Guinea’s military leaders dissolved the government by presidential decree, and the 24-month transition period to civilian rule is set to expire in December.
Overall, the decision to reopen borders and lift sanctions on Niger represents a shift in regional policy towards military regimes in West Africa, indicating a new approach to engagement and cooperation.
