ECOWAS lifts sanctions on Guinea

By Fatma Esma Arslan

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to lift sanctions on Guinea on Sunday.

The closing statement of ECOWAS’s leaders' summit held in the Nigerian capital Abuja to discuss the decision last month by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to withdraw from the West African regional bloc and political developments in Senegal has been published.

According to the statement, the economic sanctions imposed on Guinea after its military coup in September 2021 and the restrictions on Malian citizens working at ECOWAS institutions have been lifted.

Regarding the political crisis in Senegal following the postponement of its presidential elections scheduled for Feb. 25, the parties were called upon to prioritize reconciliation to safeguard the country's democratic gains.

The statement also reiterated the need for the immediate release of Niger’s former President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since a coup on July 26 last year.

ECOWAS announced the lifting of sanctions imposed on Niger on Saturday.