Cotonou, 14 August, 2023 / 9:21 pm (ACI Africa).
Members of the Episcopal Conference of Benin (CEB) have called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to “rapidly” lift or revise sanctions imposed on Niger following the July 27 announcement of a coup in the country.
ECOWAS has cut off Niger's “financial transactions, electricity supplies and closed its land borders, blocking crucial imports," BBC News reported.
In a Friday, August 11 statement, CEB members said they are “following with great concern the development of the crisis that has been shaking Niger, a close, brotherly and friendly country, for several days now.”
“Indeed, the unprecedentedly severe sanctions imposed on Niger are not likely to guarantee the well-being of populations already facing the tragedy of poverty and misery,” the Bishops said.
They added, “In the name of ethics, African solidarity and our common humanity, these sanctions must be rapidly lifted or at least revised.”