The coup in Niger has made it blatantly clear what an obedient lapdog ECOWAS is for ex-colonial overlord France. The regional alliance of West African states might as well rebrand now as Paris’ enforcer. Moving in lockstep with the West, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on poverty-hit Niger after the military seizure of power. These included freezing national assets, ending ‘aid’ to the country and halting financial transactions, as well as closing borders with Niger and banning commercial flights. On top of that, ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the new Nigerien leadership: reinstate deposed France-friendly President Mohamed Bazoum within 7 days, or we may use force to ensure a coup reversal! That deadline has now expired, but the military threat still looms large. Niamey has closed its airspace as a precaution. Niger is not the first African nation to be targeted by ECOWAS, apparently on behalf of its master. The bloc imposed similar sanctions on Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea after military forces in those countries seized power and started cutting ties with France. It’s an old story: Africans fighting their brothers for the interests of external neo-/colonial powers. Let’s hope those that govern us finally feel inspired to rewrite the script of this now boring and played-out tragedy.