Niger Republic military junta has sued the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over sanctions levied by the West African bloc on the country following the military takeover of power.

The Niger Republic junta in their suit asked the ECOWAS court to immediately lift the sanctions imposed on them by their West African neighbours.

The ECOWAS court during its session in Abuja set December 7, 2023, to pass its judgement on the case.

The applicants represented by their lawyers, Moukaila Yaye, and five others argued that the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS were extremely stringent and targeted at Nigeriens.

“There is no sector of the Nigerien society that has not been affected by these sanctions” which have caused untold economic hardship in one of the world’s poorest countries,” Yaye told the court.

The respondents –  ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, the Mediation and Security Council, and the ECOWAS Commission – argued that the junta is not recognized under the ECOWAS protocol and does not have the power to institute such a case in court.