Coup: Niger Can Overcome ECOWAS Sanctions – Military-Appointed PM

The new prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, in an interview released on Monday, said the country will able to overcome the sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Zeine in an interview with German broadcaster, Deutsche Welle said, “We think that even though it is an unfair challenge that has been imposed on us, we should be able to overcome it. And we will overcome it.”

Naija News recalls that ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger following the coup which saw the military take over power from democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26.

ECOWAS in its sanctions blocked financial transactions, electricity supplies and closed borders with Niger, blocking much-needed imports to one of the world’s poorest countries.

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

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

“Because the basic principle of solidarity is to work to enable all the states that belong to this union to be in a position to create the conditions for prosperity, and also to ensure that each of the countries benefits from the solidarity of the community.”

He also urged people to “trust the new authorities.

“We have focused our actions on serving them with complete integrity and competence.”