ECOWAS: I want leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger to reunite for peace, says Gowon

A former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon has made a plea to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government to bring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger back together.

These three countries have expressed a desire to leave the regional organisation.

Following a protracted disagreement with ECOWAS over military regimes that overthrew democratic governments in the three countries, the three declared last month that they were leaving the bloc.

In response, Gowon wrote to the regional heads of state and government via the ECOWAS Commission, pleading with them to suspend the sanctions against Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger in move to find a peaceful solution to the issues at hand.

Gowon who is one of ECOWAS’s founding founders and the only one still living, voiced alarm about Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s notice of their decision to leave the organisation, emphasising the serious consequences this move would have for the sub-region’s inhabitants.

Therefore, he urged all West African leaders to take immediate action to consider implementing the following: “lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger; withdrawal by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their notices to leave ECOWAS; and participation of all 15 ECOWAS Heads of State in a Summit 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.”

Speaking further “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.”

He urged the leaders of ECOWAS, including those of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, to set aside their differences and unite for the peace, stability, and prosperity of the sub-region.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, who received the letter, lauded General Gowon for his enormous efforts to bring unity and stability to the region, adding that he will promptly deliver it to the West African leaders, who will deliberate on the issues and recommendations in the forthcoming Extraordinary Heads of State and Government summit scheduled for Saturday, February 24 in Abuja, Nigeria.