By Daniel Edu
China Gezhouba Group Co. LTD, a prominent Chinese construction firm, has decided to temporarily suspend its work on the Kandadji Dam project in Niger Republic due to sanctions imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations (UN), and the World Bank.
These sanctions were levied as a response to the recent upheaval in the nation, where the military seized power from democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
The ongoing political turmoil in the Republic of Niger has triggered a series of sanctions targeting the country.
Zagazola Makama, a respected security analyst and expert in countering insurgencies around Lake Chad and the West African region, highlighted in a circular dated August 7, 2023, titled ‘Notice of Kandadji Dam Project Suspension and Workforce Reduction’, that the China Gezhouba Group had taken the decision to pause the project due to their inability to settle financial obligations arising from the dam’s construction.
The company also stated their intention to terminate existing contracts with local employees to facilitate an orderly workforce reduction.
The statement released by the company explains, “In light of the political instability that transpired on July 26, 2023, in Niger, the security situation has grown increasingly concerning. ECOWAS, the European Union, and the World Bank have all imposed financial sanctions on the nation, creating insurmountable challenges for the company to meet its financial obligations.”
“Faced with this unforeseeable situation, we are compelled to suspend all construction operations temporarily and initiate a phased process of releasing local workforce. It’s important to note that this force majeure-based contract termination will not entail severance compensation for the affected employees.”
“However, we are committed to settling their outstanding wages and ensuring their lawful rights are upheld. Additionally, we pledge to prioritize rehiring these affected employees once work on the Kandadji Dam recommences. We humbly request your assistance and support in managing this contract termination process.”
Please note that this is a revised version of the news excerpt provided, focusing on clarity and rephrasing while maintaining the key information.