The Diplomat
The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, yesterday expressed Spain’s support for the sanctions that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed against individuals and organisations linked to the coup junta in Niger.
The Foreign Minister, who went to Congress to collect his parliamentary seat, put the onus on ECOWAS to take action against Niger, stressing that “it is not up to the Europeans to speak” and calling for “African solutions to an African problem”, reports Europa Press.
“We support all ECOWAS decisions and we will also support any future decisions they may take in this regard”, said the acting foreign minister. Albares thus aligns himself with the European Union (EU), which has already reiterated its support for ECOWAS measures against Niger.
In this context, Albares once again called for the release of the democratically elected Nigerien president, Mohamed Bazoum, and his family, and the re-establishment of constitutional channels in the African country. He also stressed that Spain will not resume bilateral cooperation with Niger until the above is fulfilled.
Later, in his X account, the Spanish minister reported that he had spoken with the Prime Minister of Niger, Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou, with whom he analysed, he explained, the situation in the country and the decisions adopted by ECOWAS.
Albares added that he had offered Spain’s support to the Niger Prime Minister deposed by the coup plotters, also in its capacity as rotating Presidency of the European Council.
