ECOWAS Archives - The African Mirror

Oct

09

2023

Niger cuts 2023 budget by 40% as post-coup sanctions bite

BUSINESS

NIGER has cut its planned spending in 2023 by 40% because of international sanctions imposed after the military took power in a July coup, further hobbling the economy in one of the world's poorest countries, the junta said in a televised statement. The statement said this year's budget, initially forecast at 3.29 trillion CFA francs ($5.3 billion), was slashed to 1.98 trillion, without detailing where the cuts would fall. Soldiers from the presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and set up a transitional government, one of the recent coups in West Africa's Sahel region. The takeover prompted…

Jul

11

2023

By FELIX ONUAH

Nigerian President Tinubu chosen as new West Africa bloc chief

NEWS

WEST African regional bloc ECOWAS has chosen Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as its new chairman at a time of deepening insecurity, including military coups and terrorism, in the region. West Africa has witnessed six successful military coups since 2020, marking a backslide of democracy in a region that had been seen to be making progress in shedding its "coup belt" moniker. Tinubu, who was voted in on Sunday and takes over from President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, called for swift action against insecurity including terrorism and coups in West Africa which he said had reached "alarming proportion." "On peace…

Jan

08

2023

By The African Mirror

Mali leader pardons Ivorian soldiers, suspends 46 prison sentences

NEWS

MALI'S junta leader has pardoned 49 Ivorian soldiers arrested in July and accused of conspiring against the Malian government, the presidency said in a statement. The soldiers' arrest sparked a diplomatic dispute between Mali and neighbouring Ivory Coast, and widespread condemnation from regional leaders against a country already at odds with the international community. They were arrested at the airport in Mali's capital Bamako last July. Malian authorities said the troops were acting as mercenaries, while Ivory Coast said they were part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. Three who were women were later released, while the remaining 46…

Oct

21

2022

By The African Mirror

Senegal hones its home-grown rice to cut dependence on Asian imports

NEWS

NGOUDA DIONE and ELODIE TOTO SENEGALESE cook Amy Gueye always tries to use imported rice at her family-run restaurant in Dakar, knowing that customers prefer the taste to home-grown varieties when they buy her spicy rice-based fish and chicken dishes. Senegal's rice production has soared in recent years as it seeks to reduce dependence on imports, but the population across West Africa has also risen fast, meaning countries still rely on Asia for supplies, particularly high-quality produce. With concern growing over food security across Africa, prompted by trade disruptions caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, that dependence is now…

Jul

05

2022

By The African Mirror

West African leaders lift economic and financial sanctions on Mali

NEWS

COOPER INVEEN and CHRISTIAN AKORLIE LEADERS of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday lifted economic and financial sanctions imposed on Mali after its military rulers proposed a 24-month transition to democracy and published a new electoral law. The bloc imposed stiff sanctions on Mali in January after the junta said it would not organise democratic elections the following month as initially planned. ECOWAS Commission President Jean Claude Kassi Brou told a news conference that the sanctions will be lifted immediately. Borders with Mali will reopen and regional diplomats will return to Bamako. "However, the heads of…

Mar

02

2022

By The African Mirror

Mali debt defaults due to sanctions reach $180 million

NEWS

MALI has failed to pay 46.32 billion CFA francs ($78.5 million) in principal and interest on a treasury bond, the West African debt agency Umoa-Titres said, pushing its debt defaults due to sanctions following two coups to $180 million. West Africa's main political bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the UEMOA monetary union ordered the sanctions after Mali's military rulers pushed back the timeline for elections. The missed payments, which were due on Monday, bring the total payments that Mali has defaulted on because of sanctions since January to about $180 million. The sanctions include border…

Mar

02

2022

By The African Mirror

Burkina Faso national conference approves 3-year military-led transition

NEWS

THIAM NDIAGA A national conference in Burkina Faso has authorised the ruling junta to hold power for three years, potentially setting the West African country on a collision course with international partners who have urged a speedy return to constitutional order. The junta seized power in a January coup against President Roch Kabore, blaming him for failing to contain surging violence by Islamist militants. The putsch was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, who is now interim president. The charter was approved by the conference and signed by Damiba in the early hours of Tuesday after a day-long debate in the…

Sep

21

2021

By The African Mirror

Guinea coup has left west Africa’s regional body with limited options. But there are some

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE resurgence of power-seeking militaries in west Africa poses a serious threat to the hard-earned democratic progress made in the region since the early 1990s. The recent military coup in Guinea was the third in the region in a year. JOSEPH SIEGLE, Director of Research, Africa Center for Strategic Studies DANIEL EIZENGA, Research Fellow, Africa Center for Strategic Studies Just a few years ago, 14 of the 15 members of the Economic Community of West Africa States (Ecowas) were democratic leaning, according to data from Freedom House and the Center for Systemic Peace. Today, only 11 qualify, with others teetering…

Sep

20

2021

By The African Mirror

French minister in Sahel amid talk of Russian hired guns for Mali

NEWS

FRANCE’S Armed Forces Minister has arrived in Niger as part of a two-day visit to allies in the Sahel region, where French-led military operations against Islamist militants are under threat from Mali's talks with Russian defence contractors. Diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters that Mali's year-old military junta is close to recruiting the Russian Wagner Group, and France has launched a diplomatic drive to thwart it, saying such an arrangement is "incompatible" with a continued French presence. West Africa's main political bloc, ECOWAS, has also expressed concern. But Mali's junta has dug in, noting that France has begun scaling…

Sep

19

2021

By The African Mirror

Defiant junta rejects pressure to let Conde leave Guinea

NEWS

SALIOU SAMB GUINEA’S military junta has refused to bow to regional pressure and allow President Alpha Conde, detained since his overthrow on September 5, to leave the country. On Friday Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara and Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo paid a one-day visit to Conakry to ask coup leader Mamady Doumbouya, a special forces commander and former French Legionnaire, for Conde's release. Ouattara had been hoping to leave Guinea with Conde, a senior regional government official told Reuters. "The former president is and remains in Guinea. We will not yield to any pressure," the junta said in a statement…