Coup d’État in Niger: UEMOA’s 10 Immediate Sanctions

- Publicité-

Following an extraordinary summit held on Sunday, July 30, 2023, in Abuja, 10 economic sanctions have been imposed, primarily targeting the coup leaders in Niger. UEMOA announced that these sanctions take immediate effect.

The sanctions are severe for those behind the removal of Mohamed Bazoum. They were the focus of UEMOA Heads of State on Sunday in Abuja. The institution has taken the following measures to demand the reinstatement of Mohamed Bazoum as the leader of Niger.

1. Closure of air and land borders between Niger and UEMOA member countries.
2. Prohibition of airspace overflight for any aircraft coming to or leaving Niger.
3. Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between UEMOA member countries and Niger, including transactions involving petroleum products, electricity, goods, and services.
4. Suspension of all financial transactions between UEMOA member countries and Niger.
5. Freezing of Niger’s financial and monetary assets at the BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States) and commercial banks in UEMOA member countries.
6. Freezing of financial and monetary assets of Niger’s state-owned and para-state-owned companies at the BCEAO and commercial banks in UEMOA member countries.
7. Suspension of financial operations between Niger’s banks and banks in other UEMOA member countries.
8. Suspension of all assistance and financial transactions in favor of Niger by UEMOA financing institutions, particularly the BOAD (West African Development Bank).
9. Travel ban, freezing of financial assets, and confiscation of properties for the perpetrators of this attempted coup.
10. The travel ban, freezing of assets, and property confiscation apply to all civilian or military personnel who participate in the institutions or government bodies that the military attempts to establish in this coup. These measures also apply to the families of the individuals involved, who will also be banned from staying in UEMOA member countries.

Furthermore, UEMOA Heads of State and Government have unequivocally rejected the coup d’état. They reiterated that the only recognized President of Niger is indeed Mohamed Bazoum, stating that “only official acts emanating from him and his representatives are recognized by UEMOA.”

UEMOA evidently hasn’t changed its strategy when it comes to coup d’état. The option of economic sanctions has already been applied in the cases of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. However, this strategy has proven ineffective in those countries, as it has not succeeded in bending the coup leaders.