Nigeria coup: ECOWAS under Tinubu imposes new sanctions

The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) led by President Bola Tinubu has enacted fresh sanctions against the backdrop of the coup in Niger Republic.

Previously, the regional bloc had given the Niger junta a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face sanctions, even including potential military intervention.

The coup leaders, however, remained defiant in the face of ECOWAS’ stance and vowed to resist foreign intervention on their soil. They severed ties with Nigeria, Togo, France, and the US, and also closed the Nigerien airspace indefinitely.

Following the expiration of the ultimatum, the bloc convened a meeting slated for Thursday to assess the situation within the West African nation.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngeale disclosed that additional sanctions have been imposed on individuals and entities linked to the military junta in Niger Republic. Although specific details were not divulged, Ngeale indicated that these sanctions were enacted through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“I can also report that following the expiration of the deadline of the ultimatum and standing on the preexisting consensus position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in Niger Republic by the bloc of ECOWAS Heads of State, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an additional sway of financial sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on entities and individuals related to or involved with the military junta in Niger Republic.”

Ngeale clarified that the ECOWAS mandate and ultimatum do not solely belong to Nigeria, emphasizing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s role as ECOWAS chairman represents the collective stance of member heads of state. He highlighted that the response to the Niger coup is void of ethnic and religious biases and represents the diverse composition of the regional bloc.