How will ECOWAS sanctions affect Niger?

Niger's government says it wants to maintain good relations with the west African regional group ECOWAS, despite being suspended.

The country's foreign minister, Aichatou Mindaoudou, said that although they had not yet received a formal copy of the suspension, which was imposed because her government went ahead with elections that were being boycotted by the opposition, she hoped it would not affect Niger's dealings with its neighbours.

So what exactly does it mean to be suspended from ECOWAS?

Peter Ndoro put that question to Gilles Yabi, an expert on west African affairs.