EU-Niger: “strong package of sanctions” in view

Toledo, Spain 31.08.2023 “…We will have a look at what is happening in the world, the Russian influence, the consequences of the war, and certainly focus on Niger and the Sahel”, said the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, entering the assembly of the EU Foreign ministers. “And for that, we have here with us the President of the ECOWAS [Commission, Omar Touray] – the President of the Economic Community of West African States – and also the Foreign Minister [of Niger, Hassoumi Massaoudou] of the Bazoum government” he added.

🔴LIVE NOW: HR/VP @JosepBorrellF remarks upon arrival at the Informal Ministerial meeting on Foreign Affairs ⤵ https://t.co/c6agPygn2i

— European External Action Service – EEAS 🇪🇺 (@eu_eeas) August 31, 2023

“[The President of Niger, Mohammed] Bazoum is still retained. He is still, not in prison, but detained in the presidential palace, but his Foreign Affairs Minister escaped from Niger, went to Nigeria, and he is here today together with the President of the ECOWAS [Commission].

L’option militaire envisagée sérieusement par la Cedeao n’est pas une guerre contre le Niger et son peuple, mais une opération de police contre le preneur d’otages et ses complices.

— Hassoumi Massoudou (@HassoumiMassou1) August 12, 2023

“Today, it would be a good occasion to talk about ECOWAS, to know more about their plans, to see how the African people [and] states react – African solutions to African problems. But it is also an occasion for us to review our African policy.

“This is the menu for today. The same as yesterday, but from another dimension, and with three special guests: [Minister Dmytro] Kuleba, the president of ECOWAS and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Nigerien government. When I say “Nigerien government” certainly I am talking about the Bazoum government”.

Productivo encuentro con Omar Touray, Presidente Comisión @ecowas_cedeao, sobre la situación en Sahel y África Occidental.

Le he trasladado el apoyo de la Presidencia @eu2023es a esfuerzos de CEDEAO para garantizar estabilidad y democracia en la región, que abordaremos mañana. pic.twitter.com/3qmzykyqQV

— José Manuel Albares (@jmalbares) August 30, 2023

Answering press questions Josep Borrell said the following, concerning the possible sanctions on Niger:
“As I said yesterday, we will consider any proposition that ECOWAS presents to us. You say: “African solutions to African problems”. You say that you support ECOWAS, but support [them] on what? Support what they decide to do. They have decided a strong package of sanctions, and we have already started working on a specific framework for sanctioning those responsible for the coup in Niger. So, we will apply a strong package of sanctions following the ECOWAS’ path. Any other measure has to be studied. I cannot say “it depends”. What I am saying is that we will seriously take into consideration, we will consider any proposition. But we need to have propositions”.

EU Foreign affairs ministers meet at the Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich format) in Toledo in Spain on 30–31 August. The Spanish top diplomat Albares Bueno, and the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, will be hosting the informal assembly.