West Africa’s top court has dealt a blow to Niger’s military junta, rejecting their request to lift sanctions imposed following a July coup.
The court declared the junta unconstitutional and therefore lacking the authority to make such a request.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.
These sanctions included border closures, financial transaction suspensions, and asset freezes. Additionally, Nigeria, a neighbor of Niger, cut off power supply, impacting 70 percent of the country’s electricity.
Niger challenged these sanctions at the ECOWAS Court of Justice, arguing that they were causing undue hardship for its citizens, particularly by restricting access to food and medicine.
The junta requested a temporary suspension of the sanctions while awaiting a final judgment.
Delivering the verdict, Justice Dupe Atoki condemned the coup as an “unconstitutional change of government” and stated that the junta is not recognized as a member of ECOWAS.
Consequently, the judge declared the request for provisional measures “inadmissible” due to its origin from an unrecognized and unconstitutional government.
This ruling could further complicate efforts to resolve Niger’s political crisis and return the country to civilian rule.
The junta, led by a newly appointed prime minister, has proposed a three-year transition period to civilian rule, a timeline rejected by ECOWAS.
Adding to the complexity, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, who has emerged as a mediator between Niger and ECOWAS, visited Niger on Thursday.
His visit comes ahead of a crucial ECOWAS summit scheduled for Sunday in Abuja, where the coup in Niger and other regional political crises will be discussed.
Meanwhile, the deposed president, Bazoum, remains in detention under the junta’s control. His unconditional release and reinstatement are key demands of ECOWAS for the lifting of sanctions.
