The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced the lifting of stringent sanctions against Niger on Saturday.
Regional integration is in danger due to the withdrawal of three junta-led states from the political and economic union, so the block is developing a new strategy to stop it.
Leaders of the 15-member regional bloc met in January to discuss the worsening political crisis in the region following the military coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
Following discussions behind closed doors, ECOWAS lifted sanctions against Niger immediately, including the closure of borders, the freezing of central bank and state assets, and the suspension of commercial transactions.
ECOWAS competes with three junta states, attempting to persuade them to stay in the nearly 50-year-old alliance, stating in a communiqué that they took this action for humanitarian reasons.
The Block also lifted sanctions on junta-led Guinea, which has not said it wants to leave ECOWAS but has not set a timeline for democratic rule.
Niger still faces targeted and political sanctions without details, according to ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray.
