Lift Sanctions On Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gowon Pleads With ECOWAS.
By Caroline Ameh
Former Nigerian Head of State and founding member of ECOWAS, Yakubu Gowon, has issued a public plea to the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS Member States, advocating for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Addressing journalists at a press conference at the ECOWAS Commission Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, Gowon expressed grave concerns over recent developments within the regional body.
Gowon’s intervention follows ECOWAS’s implementation of economic sanctions on countries experiencing military coups, intended as a deterrent measure. He underscored the imperative of fostering unity within ECOWAS and underscored the adverse repercussions of the recent withdrawals by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the bloc.
The former Head of State urged leaders across West Africa to reconsider the sanctions, emphasizing the significance of regional integration and its positive impact on ordinary citizens. He called for an emergency summit among all 15 member states to deliberate on the future of the community, regional security dynamics, and the role of the international community amid prevailing geopolitical complexities.
He noted ECOWAS’s substantial achievements, including advancements in trade liberalization and the facilitation of West Africans’ right to legitimate residency across member states, and appealed to ECOWAS leaders to prioritize unity for the collective peace, stability, and prosperity of the sub-region.
He also emphasized the intrinsic bonds of shared history, culture, and traditions that unite West African nations, urging leaders to set aside differences for the greater good of the community.
