Niger : ECOWAS, in disregard of texts, has caused deaths of several nigeriens – motivation behind AES countries’ withdrawal
The three countries of the AES have withdrawn from ECOWAS for reasons that everyone cites, such as « lack of assistance in the fight against terrorism » and « inhuman sanctions imposed by the institution », but what people may not know and what motivated the AES member states is that ECOWAS, through its sanctions, has caused the death of the Nigerien people. Initially, by depriving them of food, pharmaceuticals, and other vital necessities.
What pushed things over the edge was when Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president and current ECOWAS chair, decided to cut off electricity supply to Niger, leading to the death of several Nigeriens in healthcare centers. For six months now, ECOWAS, under the orders of France, has been accused of causing harm to the Nigerien people.
ECOWAS has never applied the texts governing the organization in the case of Niger. Its position towards Niger seems like settling scores, in which France and its allied African heads of state (Bola Tinubu, Alassane Ouattara, Macky Sall, and Patrice Talon) have been inhumane, even depriving the country of food.
In the history of the world, the UN has never imposed such humanitarian sanctions on a country. Even countries at war receive humanitarian assistance, which Niger has not been entitled to, despite not being at war, and the imposed sanctions having no legal basis according to its texts.
Thus, ECOWAS becomes a real threat to the existence of the AES countries. These are the reasons that prompted Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to exit ECOWAS. This situation will persist as long as the institution is considered a puppet of a foreign power and does not apply the texts governing it.
