A former Nigerian head of state and one of many founding fathers of the Financial Group of West African States, Yakubu Gowon, has urged the regional bloc authorities to elevate sanctions on Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger Republic.
Gowon made the advice in an open letter to heads of state and ECOWAS member states on Wednesday.
The 15-nation bloc ECOWAS – which was based in 1975 to advertise financial integration amongst member states – is extensively seen as West Africa's most important political and regional authority and has struggled in recent times to stem a wave of to reverse navy takeovers within the area, together with Mali in 2020. and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger final yr.
Members of the 15-nation bloc (excluding the 4 members suspended since falling beneath navy rule – Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger), together with the eight-member West African Financial and Financial Union, agreed to shut all borders with Niger. droop monetary transactions and freeze the nation's property with exterior banks.
Sadly, the three international locations, which have been contemplating a counter drive, the Alliance of Sahel States, in opposition to the regional bloc after the overthrow of the democratically elected authorities in Niger, introduced their departure from ECOWAS on Sunday, January 28, 2023.
In a joint assertion, navy leaders, Capt. Ibrahim Traore (Burkina Faso), colonel. Assimi Goita (Mali), and Brigadier Common. Gene. Abdourahamane Tiani (Republic of Niger), the three international locations introduced their withdrawal from ECOWAS with fast impact.
The three international locations, at the moment beneath navy rule, stated they had been not members of ECOWAS as a result of the regional physique had reportedly “moved away from the beliefs of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism.”
They claimed that ECOWAS had develop into a menace to its member states.
Gowon, who offered the letter to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Fee, Omar Touray, at a press convention in Abuja, expressed concern that the choice of Burkina Faso, Mali and the Republic of Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS would undermine the unity of endangers the bloc and has far-reaching penalties for abnormal residents.
He stated: “It saddens me to listen to that ECOWAS is threatened with division following the announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three key member states, of their intention to go away the neighborhood.
“The affect of such a call could have far-reaching penalties for the abnormal residents who’ve been the primary beneficiaries of regional integration.”
Gowon known as on ECOWAS authorities to right away think about implementing “the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.
He additionally known as for the withdrawal by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their bulletins to go away ECOWAS, and for the participation of all fifteen ECOWAS heads of state in a summit to debate the way forward for the neighborhood.
He known as on the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Authorities, together with the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to unite for peace and stability within the area.
“Subsequently, on behalf of all of the Founding Fathers of the Group and myself, I urge the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Authorities, together with the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to place apart their variations and reunite.
for the peace, stability and prosperity of our sub-region,” Gowon stated.
Upon receiving the letter, ECOWAS Fee Chairman Touray assured Gowon that he would ship the letter to all ECOWAS Heads of State.
He stated, “Your message is profound. I be aware of your name and proposals.
“A rare summit is deliberate for Saturday in Abuja. The heads of state will embrace your message of their dialogue.”
