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Following the coup in Niger, Nigeria cut off the power supply to the Republic.
This is in line with sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the military coup in Niger last week.
The sanctions, which were announced on Sunday, also include a suspension of financial transactions with Niger and the freezing of "all service transactions, including energy transactions."
Nigeria is the main supplier of electricity to Niger, and the cut-off is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy.
The coup in Niger was the latest in a series of military takeovers in West Africa in recent years. ECOWAS has been increasingly vocal in its condemnation of these coups, and the sanctions against Niger are a sign that the bloc is taking a tougher stance.
The Defence Chiefs of ECOWAS member states met in Abuja on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Niger. The meeting was attended by the Defence Chiefs of Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, The Gambia, Cote D'Ivoire, and Cape Verde.
The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said that the coup in Niger called for "collective attention and a united response." He added that ECOWAS "frowned upon any form of illegal takeover of power."
The Defence Chiefs discussed a number of options for restoring democracy in Niger, including the deployment of ECOWAS troops. However, no decision was made on any specific course of action.
The sanctions against Niger are likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy. The cut-off of electricity supply is likely to cause widespread power outages, and the suspension of financial transactions will make it difficult for Niger to import essential goods.
The sanctions are also likely to have a political impact. The coup leaders are likely to be under increasing pressure to restore democracy, as the sanctions will make it difficult for them to govern effectively.
The situation in Niger is a reminder of the challenges facing democracy in West Africa. The region has seen a number of military coups in recent years, and ECOWAS is under pressure to take a tougher stance against these coups.
The sanctions against Niger are a sign that ECOWAS is willing to take a tougher stance, but it remains to be seen whether these sanctions will be effective in restoring democracy in the country.
