Europe Agrees on Framework for Niger Sanctions

The European Union Council has enacted a legislative framework that permits it to "sanction individuals and entities responsible for actions that threaten the peace, stability, and security of Niger," Radio France Internationale reports.

Anyone in Niger who "undermines the constitutional order, or constitutes serious violations to human rights or international humanitarian law" will be targeted by the new framework.

Meanwhile at the Peace and Security Forum in Lomé, the representative of the junta in power in Niamey General Mohamed Boubacar Toumba, told his neighbours that Niger wants to reopen dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Toumba has been Niger's Minister of the Interior and Decentralisation since the coup d'état of 26 July 2023 in Niamey, and participated in the Peace and Security Forum, held in Lomé, the capital of Togo, from 20 to 22 October, to discuss the future of the region, especially in terms of security.

The forum brought together more than 300 participants and ended with the Lomé declaration on political transitions resulting from coups d'état on the continent. "ECOWAS' sanctions against Niger are very harsh," General Mohamed Boubacar Toumba told RFI's correspondent in the region, Serge Daniel.

"With the border closed on 27 July, a lot of freight expected to come from the depots has not been able to access Niger," he added. "Many foodstuffs perished, many traders lost a lot of money in this affair. So I think they made the wrong diagnosis, they took the wrong path."

Asked about Niger's future relations with ECOWAS, the minister said Niger would be happy to reopen ties.

This article originally appeared on All Africa

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