ECOWAS to Lift Ban on Niger, As It Aims To Stop Exit From Sub-Regional Body

The West African regional bloc announced Saturday that it would lift strict sanctions on Niger as it seeks a new strategy to dissuade three junta-led states — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger— from withdrawing from the political and economic union, a move that threatens regional integration. ECOWAS' President Omar Touray specified three areas where the ban would be lifted; namely, land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger, the No Fly Zone for all commercial flights to and from the country, and the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger. Alice Rizzo of Reuters filed this report.