Founder of African regional entity warns of fracture risk

Abuja, Feb 22 (Prensa Latina) The former Nigerian president Yakubu Gowon recommended to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to lift the sanctions against three countries governed by the military as an antidote to the danger of disunity.

February 22, 2024
13:21

Gowon, one of the founding fathers of the grouping in the Nigerian city of Lagos in 1975, issued his warning in an open letter to the leaders of the grouping’s member countries days before an emergency summit is scheduled to be held.

Neither my generation nor current and future generations will forgive the breakup of our community, the 89-year-old former president wrote in his letter.

He also urged West African leaders to immediately consider lifting the sanctions imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, and the withdrawal by these countries of their notification to leave ECOWAS.

He added the proposal for “the participation of the 15 heads of State of the grouping in a summit meeting to discuss the future of the community, security and regional stability”.

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