Just In: ECOWAS Lifts Economic Sanctions Against Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger 

By Okunade Kehinde

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday lifted the travel and economic sanctions levelled against Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.

The decision was announced at the end of the extraordinary summit held in Abuja Saturday, by President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray.

In return for the gesture, ECOWAS asks its Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to reconsider their decision to quit the regional body, in view of benefits enjoyed by their citizens

Other decisions made; Closure of land and air borders to Niger and a no fly zone of all commercial flights suspended.

Freezing of all financial transactions between ECOWAS states and Niger, including transactions relating to the bloc’s central bank and the unfreezing of all of Niger’s assets at the EBID suspended.

Travel ban on members of Niger’s military junta and their families lifted.

Ban on the election of Malians to ECOWAS positions lifted.

Commercial sanctions on Guinea also lifted.

Reps of the four countries to attend technical consultative meetings of ECOWAS henceforth.