By Omonu YG Nelson
Once again, Senator Ali Ndume has called for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), even as he insisted that ordinary people are the ones bearing the brunt.
Ndume made the call while contributing to the debate on situation report by a member of the Parliament from Niger Republic, Hon Djibo, at the ongoing Second Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria.
Ndume said that the sanctions are having a negative impact on the people of Niger, and that they are not an effective way to resolve the political crisis in the country. He urged ECOWAS to reconsider its decision and lift the sanctions immediately.
“The sanctions are not working,” Ndume said. “They are only hurting the people of Niger. We need to find a way to resolve the political crisis in Niger, and sanctions are not the answer.”
Ndume’s call for the lifting of sanctions comes as the ECOWAS heads of state are scheduled to meet to discuss the situation in Niger. The meeting is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
The ECOWAS sanctions were imposed on Niger in July 2023, after a military coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The sanctions include a ban on travel, border closure and a freeze on assets belonging to the government and its supporters.
The sanctions have been criticized by some, who say that they are collective punishment and that they are harming the innocent. Others have defended the sanctions, arguing that they are necessary to pressure the military junta to return power to the civilian government.
The ECOWAS heads of state will face a difficult decision when they meet to discuss the situation in Niger. They will need to balance the need to pressure the junta to step down with the need to protect the people of Niger from further suffering.
Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Parliament, also known as the Community Parliament, is one of the Institutions of ECOWAS. It is the Assembly of Peoples of the Community serving as a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for Representatives of the people of West Africa with the aim of promoting integration. It was established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993.
The initial Protocol establishing the Parliament was signed in Abuja on August 6, 1994. It provided for the Structure, Composition, Competence and other matters relating to the Parliament. The Parliament is composed of one hundred and fifteen (115) seats. Each Member State shall have a guaranteed minimum of five (5) seats. The remaining forty (40) seats shall be shared on the basis of population.
@SummitPost