August 14, (THEWILL) – Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Zeine has expressed confidence in the capacity of Niger to overcome the sanctions imposed on the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
West African leaders had imposed sanctions on Niger Republic, in response to the coup which sacked President Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26.
The bloc has severed financial transactions and electricity supplies and closed borders with landlocked Niger, blocking much-needed imports to one of the world’s poorest countries.
Speaking during an interview with German broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, the new prime minister said, “We think that even though it is an unfair challenge that has been imposed on us, we should be able to overcome it. And we will overcome it.”
But Zeine also expressed optimism about a visit by a Nigerian delegation and talks with ECOWAS and stressed the importance of Niger’s ties with Nigeria, as well as the West African bloc.
“We have a great interest in preserving this important and historical relationship and also in having ECOWAS work on purely economic issues first.
“Because the basic principle of solidarity is to work to enable all the states that belong to this union to be in a position to create the conditions for prosperity, and also to ensure that each of the countries benefits from the solidarity of the community.”
The new Prime minister also urged people to “trust the new authorities.”
“We have focused our actions on serving them with complete integrity and competence”, he added.
The Military junta in Niger Republic had on Monday, August 7, named Ali Zeine, a former Economy and Finance Minister, as the new Prime Minister.
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