Former Nigerian president calls on ECOWAS to end siege on Mali, B’Faso and Niger

Former Nigerian military Head of State, who is also one of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Yakubu Gowon, has called on the regional bloc group to end sanctions imposed on Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger Republic.

In an open letter presented to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, in Abuja at a press conference, the former Nigerian president noted that the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic to leave ECOWAS threatens the unity of the bloc with its implications affecting ordinary citizens.

Recall that the three countries are under ECOWAS sanctions after their top military officers snatched power in military coups.

The bloc agreed to close all borders against the country, suspend financial transactions and freeze the country’s assets in external banks.

Speaking on the punishments imposed on the countries, Gowon called on the ECOWAS authorities to immediately consider the implementation of the “lifting of all sanctions” that have been imposed on them.

Gowon said: “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 also appealed to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw their notices to leave ECOWAS while urging “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.”