African Court Rejects Niger Military Council's Appeal to Lift Sanctions

A court in West Africa rejected an appeal on Thursday from the military council in Niger seeking to lift sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the coup in July. Soldiers from Niger's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and established what they described as a transitional government amidst a series of recent coups in the Sahel region of West Africa. The transitional government argued to the ECOWAS Court of Justice, based in Abuja, that "the sanctions, which included closing borders with Niger's neighbors and cutting off Nigeria's energy supplies, have led to shortages of medicines and food, causing difficulties." However, the court rejected the appeal, stating that the military council lacks the standing to file a case on behalf of Niger. Judge Dub Atouki stated, "The military council is not a recognized government and is not a member of ECOWAS, thus it lacks the appropriate status to take this action. Therefore, the case is dismissed."