International humanitarian entities have united to appeal to the West African bloc ECOWAS, pressing for the easing of sanctions imposed on Niger. Their objective is to facilitate the immediate entry of crucial emergency aid from neighboring Benin.
About 20 organizations have joined together, urging for the “immediate reopening” of the border between Niger and Benin, which has remained shut due to regional sanctions imposed following a coup in Niger.
During a summit convened on Sunday, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) upheld the sanctions on Niger, established after a military coup in July.
They stipulated the necessity for progress towards a rapid transition to civilian governance before contemplating any relaxation of these measures.
“We are calling for the border between Benin and Niger to open to humanitarian assistance immediately,” said the NGO statement, whose signatories include Oxfam, Save the Children and Medicins du Monde.
Underlining the critical urgency, the aid organizations cautioned that more than 4.3 million individuals urgently require assistance.
Mohammed Chikhaoui, humanitarian representative for international NGOs in Niger, said in the statement that the lack of humanitarian aid “risks seriously compromising access to medical assistance, food and other essential needs for the most vulnerable populations of Niger”.
During the summit, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray disclosed that the bloc had “authorized humanitarian access to medical and relief supplies for the welfare of the people, but the military authorities have declined to utilize it.”
Niger, once a pivotal ally in combating Sahel militants, has witnessed post-coup military leaders demanding the withdrawal of French troops stationed in the country.
The withdrawal of French troops from the Sahel region, spanning across Africa along the Sahara, has raised concerns about the potential spread of jihadist violence southwards towards ECOWAS states like Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast along the Gulf of Guinea, while the United States maintains a military presence in Niger.