West African regional group Ecowas announced on Sunday that it would lift sanctions imposed on Guinea, a day after Guinea took a similar decision against military-controlled Niger.
The decision was taken at an extraordinary summit of the Ekowa Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The bloc also lifted restrictions on the recruitment of Malian nationals to professional positions in Ecowa institutions.
The organization imposed sanctions on Niger, Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso between 2020 and last year, suspending sanctions following military coups in those countries.
“The authority instructs the president of the commission to invite all four Ecowas member states in transition to technical and consultative meetings of Ecowas as well as to all security-related meeting,” Ecowas said in a statement on Saturday.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger were also asked to reconsider their decision to withdraw from the organization.
On Saturday, Ecowas leaders ordered the reopening of the land border with Niger and the lifting of asset freezes on the generals who control Niger, citing “humanitarian reasons.”
Analysts say the EU’s decision signals the country’s desire to ensure that countries run by military regimes remain members.