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Regional West African Court Dismisses Niger's Challenge to ECOWAS Sanctions

by Timothy Obiezu

   Abuja, Nigeria --

   A court for the West African regional bloc ECOWAS has dismissed a
   lawsuit filed by Niger's transitional leaders and some corporations
   over sanctions imposed on Niger by ECOWAS following the July ouster of
   President Mohammed Bazoum.

   The applicants argued the sanctions are causing hardships for millions
   of Nigeriens. However, the ECOWAS Court of Justice said the military
   government did not have standing to make a case on behalf of Niger.

   Last month, Niger's military leaders, along with seven corporations,
   asked the court to suspend the political and economic sanctions imposed
   on Niger following the July 26 coup d'etat.

   However, in its ruling Thursday, the two-man court held that the
   application was inadmissible, stating that the applicants -- including
   a government instituted by a coup -- did not have standing to make a
   case on Niger.

   The court also said it suspected there was a convergence of interests
   between the military junta and the private entities, and said they were
   acting in their own interests.

   Justice Dupe Atoki delivered the judgment. She said an entity that is a
   product of an unconstitutional change of government, which is not
   recognized by ECOWAS as the government of a member state, lacks the
   capacity to bring this case in which it seems to derive benefits. The
   judge said action and a request for provisional measures standing in
   the name of Niger were inadmissible.

   Senior military officers overthrew Niger's government July 26 and have
   since kept President Mohammed Bazoum in detention.

   After the coup, ECOWAS ordered members to close their borders with
   Niger, seized government assets and halted trade with the country.

   Niger depends mainly on Nigeria and the Benin republic for the food it
   imports. Nigeria also supplies two-thirds of the country's electricity.

   All of that has been halted for months, and millions of citizens and
   businesses have been struggling to get by.

   Godbless Otubure, founder of pro-democracy group Ready to Lead Africa
   Initiative, says the ECOWAS court ruling is correct.

   "The issue at hand is a matter of legitimacy. They're not a legally
   elected government of Niger republic, so there's really no case,"
   Otubure said. "If the case is heard and judgment is given in favor of
   the junta, what it means is that there will be more military coups on
   the continent."

   The United Nations World Food Program estimates the number of people
   suffering from food insecurity in Niger has doubled to more than 6
   million since the sanctions were imposed.

   Otubure says ECOWAS should find a way to reduce civilian suffering.

   "The issue of sanctions that have now affected more people definitely
   should be looked into. The people are paying the price for what the
   military has done," Otubure said.

   Last week, the ECOWAS court was scheduled to issue a decision on a
   complaint submitted by Bazoum's lawyers, but the court failed to meet.

   The complaint centers on what Bazoum's lawyers call "sequestration and
   arbitrary detention."

   Experts say continued sanctions could put a strain on regional
   relations, especially on joint security and trade and investments.