Hommam Al Nassim 
The decision of the heads of state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to immediately lift the sanctions imposed on Niger since July 30, 2023, comes as a strategic axis that could affect African relations.
The sanctions were imposed four days after the coup in Niger last year, and carried with it dramatic repercussions after Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali withdrew from the group at the end of January, ending sanctions will allow the reopening of Niger’s borders and airspace, the resumption of financial transfers between the countries of the group and Niger and the unfreezing of Niger’s assets.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which was established as a regional political and economic union aimed at strengthening economic and political cooperation between countries, adopted a firm stance against military coups, considering them a threat to democratic governance and regional stability, and considered the imposition of sanctions on member states in the wake of military coups as a testament to the bloc’s commitment to democratic principles.
The sanctions imposed by ECOWAS were designed to isolate military regimes and pressure them to restore civilian rule, and included financial and economic restrictions, banning employment within ECOWAS institutions for citizens of affected countries, and closing borders and airspace, but these measures were reflected in the overall relations within the group as a result of the profound humanitarian effects in addition to the political tensions accompanying these hardline positions, which exacerbated political and economic difficulties and impeded the population’s access to basic goods and services, which portends of a catastrophe that affects all the countries of the group.
In Niger, sanctions have severely affected the livelihoods of more than 40% of the population living in extreme poverty, and this reality highlights the fragile balance that ECOWAS is dealing with, as there is an approach on the table within it linked to adhering to its principles in exchange for mitigating the political and economic consequences, especially that the withdrawal of some countries threatened the group’s viability and posed difficult challenges for this bloc in maintaining unity and benefiting from influence over its member states
The lifting of sanctions is an attempt to reopen channels of dialogue and negotiation with countries that have witnessed military coups, in an attempt to promote a more favorable environment to enhance the stability of relations among them, with the emergence of the “Sahel Alliance” formed by the countries withdrawing from the group (Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso), which is a development in the regional geopolitical scene, as this alliance refers to the formulation of new international relations and finding a balance within the international system, which means establishing relations away from traditional Western partners.
On the other hand, the process of lifting sanctions illustrates the complex dynamics of politics in West Africa, and raises questions about the effectiveness of sanctions as a tool for relations in that region, as achieving regional stability and economic development faces challenges mainly related to the overlap of international interests in that region, and the current lifting of sanctions on Niger reflects recognition by the Economic Community of West African States of the restrictions imposed on punitive measures, and the need for a more precise approach in shaping regional relations, and on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. in achieving sustainable solutions to political crises.
A comprehensive analysis of ECOWAS’s dealings with Niger, Guinea and Mali reveals the delicate balance between supporting the immediate needs and realities of member states in light of the internal political transformations of ECOWAS countries, and the way in which their strategies are adapted in response to political dynamics shows that new balances between their countries can later impose a new nature in light of a struggle of international wills over the wealth of these countries.
Written by Nidal Al-Khodari