Former Nigerian head of state and one of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has urged the regional bloc to lift the sanctions imposed on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.
Gowon gave the recommendation in an open letter to the Heads of State and the ECOWAS member states on Wednesday.
Widely seen as West Africa’s top political and regional authority, the 15-nation ECOWAS – formed in 1975 to promote economic integration in member states – has struggled with a wave of military takeovers in the region, including in Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger last year.
In response to the military takeover of powers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic, ECOWAS imposed various sanctions on the countries, while demanding a return to democratic rule.
Such sanctions include border closure, suspension of financial transactions and freezing of the country’s assets in external banks.
In response to the sanctions, the adamant military juntas in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, on January 27, announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, saying the regional bloc had derailed “the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism.”
They claimed that ECOWAS had become a threat to its member states.
The three countries subsequently went on to announce the formation of a new alliance, tagged the Alliance of Sahel States.
ECOWAS had earlier invited Gowon to its headquarters in Abuja on Monday to speak on the crisis and advise on the way forward. The ex-Nigerian head of state, however, did not show up.
But Gowon, in a letter addressed to the President ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, described the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic as sad, and made a three-prong recommendation to resolve the crisis.
In the letter seen by The PUNCH on Wednesday, Gowon wrote: I have noted with deep concern and sadness, the past and recent developments unfolding in the West African sub-region, particularly the pronouncement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their intention to exit from the Economic Community of West African States.
“As one of the founders of our regional economic community, it is incumbent upon me to speak on behalf of the 14 Heads of State and Government who joined me in Lagos, on 27th May 1975, to establish ECOWAS.
“Since its inception, the regional bloc has made a number of major accomplishments, including trade liberalisation, right of West Africans to live legitimately in any country within the community, as well as successful peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“ECOWAS, despite its shortcomings, has become an example of regional integration for the
wider continent. Having achieved all of the above, it saddens me to learn that ECOWAS is
threatened with disunity following the announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali and
Niger, three important member states, of their intention to leave the community. The
impact of such a decision will have far-reaching implications for the ordinary
citizens who have been the major beneficiaries of regional integration.
“Therefore, on behalf of all the founding fathers of the community and myself, I urge the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, including the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to put aside their differences and reunite for the peace, stability and prosperity of our sub-region.”
On the way forward, Gowon urged “all West African leaders to immediately consider the lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.”
He also appealed to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw their notice to dump ECOWAS.
He advised ECOWAS to convene a summit of “all 15 ECOWAS Heads of State to discuss the
future of the community, regional security, and stability, as well as the role of the international community given the current geopolitical context.”
Receiving the letter, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Touray, assured the Gowon that he would send the letter to all ECOWAS Heads of State.
He said, “Your message is a profound one. I take note of your appeal and recommendations.
“An extraordinary summit has been scheduled to take place in Abuja on Saturday. The heads of state will consider your message in their discussion.”
