We Will Overcome ECOWAS Sanctions---Prime Minister Of Niger

The new Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, on Monday, said the people of Niger would overcome the loads of sanctions imposed on the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Recall that ECOWAS imposed lots of sanctions on Niger after the military struck and overthrow the elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum.

The country’s new military leaders, appointed Zeine as the country's Prime Minister.

Zeine, in an interview, said the government thought, it was an unfair challenge that had been imposed on the country, but that they should be able to overcome it “and we will overcome it.”

According to France 24, ECOWAS had severed financial transactions and electricity supplies and closed borders with landlocked Niger, blocking much-needed imports to one of the world’s poorest countries.

The military leaders earlier said the sanctions had made it difficult for people to access medicine, food and electricity, describing the measures as “illegal, inhumane and humiliating”.

But Zeine also expressed optimism about a visit by a Nigerian delegation and talks with ECOWAS, and stressed the importance of Niger’s ties with Nigeria as well as the West African bloc.

“We have a great interest in preserving this important and historical relationship and also in having ECOWAS work on purely economic issues first,” he said.

Credit: France 24