The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has increased sanctions against Niger, cutting off power supply from Nigeria as part of a wider effort to restore constitutional order following last week’s coup.
The sanctions were announced on Sunday by ECOWAS chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who said that the bloc would “not tolerate any unconstitutional change of government” in the region.
In addition to the power cut, ECOWAS has also suspended financial transactions with Niger and frozen the assets of the country’s military leaders.
There is no definitive confirmation that financial transactions have been suspended and assets frozen in Niger. However, there have been reports that some banks in Niger have been unable to process transactions, and that some businesses have been unable to access their funds.
The coup in Niger took place on July 26, when officers of the Presidential Guard arrested President-elect Mohamed Bazoum and declared him deposed.
Bazoum was due to be sworn in as president on August 4, but the coup has thrown the country’s political future into uncertainty.
ECOWAS has given Niger a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order. If the deadline is not met, the bloc has said that it will impose further sanctions.
The coup in Niger is the latest in a series of military takeovers in West Africa in recent years. In 2020, there were coups in Mali and Guinea, and there have been several attempted coups in other countries in the region.
The coup in Niger has raised concerns about the stability of the region and the threat posed by military rule.
ECOWAS has said that it is committed to restoring constitutional order in Niger and preventing further coups in the region.
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