ECOWAS Lifts Sanctions on Niger

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced its decision to lift most sanctions imposed on Niger following last year's coup. The sanctions, which included a no-fly zone and border closures, are being lifted "with immediate effect" for humanitarian reasons. Omar Alieu Touray, the president of ECOWAS, stated that there are both individual and political sanctions still in place against Niger. Heads of state from West Africa are meeting to discuss regional challenges and plan to call on Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have all recently decided to withdraw from the 15-member bloc, to reconsider their decisions.