THE PRESIDENT OF THE ECOWAS COMMISSION RECEIVES OPEN LETTER TO
ECOWAS HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT FROM THE FOUNDING FATHER
GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON CALLING FOR UNITY AND LIFTING OF SANCTIONS
ON BURKINA FASO, GUINEA, MALI, AND NIGER.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray has received an open letter from the sole surviving founding father of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon GCFR at the ECOWAS Commission.
in Abuja, today, February 21, 2024, for onward delivery to all ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
Reading the content of his letter before the media at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, General Gowon expressed “deep concern and sadness “over the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to exit from ECOWAS.
He said the decision will have a “far-reaching impact on the ordinary citizens who have been the
beneficiaries” of the considerable achievements of ECOWAS such as trade liberalisation, the
right of West Africans to live legitimately in any country within the Community, as well as successful peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
General Gowon who said he was making the passionate appeal on behalf of all the founding fathers urged all the Heads of State and Government in West Africa including those of Burkina Faso,
Mali and Niger, to put aside their differences and reunite for peace, stability and prosperity of
the region.
He therefore asked all the West African leaders to “consider the implementation of the following;
1.
Lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and
Niger;
2.
Withdrawal by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their notices to leave ECOWAS and
3.
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”.
General Gowon reiterated to the regional leaders that “ECOWAS is more than a coalition of States. It is a community established for the good of our people based on shared history, culture and traditions.
Abuja, Nigeria, February 21st
, 2024,
Page 2 / 2
Directorate of Communication
101 Yakubo Gowon Crescent • Asokoro District • P.M.B. 401 – Abuja • Nigeria
www.ecowas.int
ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray assured General Gowon that the letter
will be sent to every Head of State of the ECOWAS Community.
He further appreciated General Gowon for his commitment to constantly engaging with the
Community.
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For further information, Kindly contact:
Directorate of Communication, ECOWAS Commission
Email: alungu@ecowas.int, X: @ecowas_cedeao – Facebook: Ecowas-Cedeao
www.ecowas.int
About ECOWAS
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established when the ECOWAS Treaty was signed
by 15 West African Heads of State and Government on the 28th of May 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. The ECOWAS region
spans an area of 5.2 million square kilometres. The Member States are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte
d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
Considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community, ECOWAS was set up to promote cooperation and
integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa to raise the living standards of its
peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations-among Member States and contribute to
the progress and development of the African continent.
ECOWAS is implementing critical and strategic programmes that will deepen cohesion and progressively eliminate
identified barriers to full integration. In this way, the estimated 300 million citizens of the community can ultimately
take ownership of the realization of the new vision of moving from an ECOWAS of States to an “ECOWAS
