President Tinubu Imposes Heavier Economic Sanctions On Niger, Burkina Faso, And Mali

President Bola Tinubu has imposed heavier economic sanctions on Niger and its neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso and Mali, which have shown strong support for the July 26, 2023, military coup in Niger that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The inclusion of Burkina Faso and Mali in the fresh economic sanctions is not surprising, as both countries have threatened to form a coalition if ECOWAS intervenes militarily in Niger.

President Tinubu’s actions are based on his office as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States.

The fresh sanctions are a result of the expiration of the deadline given to Niger by ECOWAS to return power to detained President Bazoum.

Related: Niger: Coup Leaders Shut Down Air Space

Diplomatic efforts made by the United States, the United Nations, and the African Union to negotiate the return of power to Bazoum have yielded no fruit.

The coup leader and the West African country’s new Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has maintained a stronghold on power and has received strong backing from citizens and other military officers.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed the fresh economic sanctions on Tuesday during a briefing with local media.

“I can also report that following the expiration of the deadline of the ultimatum and standing on the pre-existing consensus position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in Niger Republic by the bloc of ECOWAS Heads of State, President Bola Tinubu has ordered an additional slew of financial sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria on entities and individuals related to or involved with the military junta in Niger Republic,” Ngelale told reporters.

Four West African countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Niger—are currently under military leadership.