West African heads meet to keep junta-led nations in bloc and review sanctions against Niger coup

Heads of state across West Africa are meeting on Saturday to discuss the region’s challenges and to call again on three junta-led nations to rescind their decision to quit the regional bloc and a plan to review imposed sanctions to reverse the coup in Niger. The summit of the economic block of ECOWAS on Saturday in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, comes at a critical time when the 49-year-old bloc’s future is threatened. It is currently struggling with possible disintegration after three of its 15 member states decided to quit the bloc and a recent surge in coups. ECOWAS is also expected to review sanctions imposed on Niger to reverse the coup there.