African Commission Blockades Biafra Liberation Petition, Claims

The Simon Ekpa-led Biafra Republic Government In-Exile has accused the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights of unfairly blocking its petition for Biafra’s declaration of self-rule. Ekpa, self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the BRGIE, stated that despite receiving a response on June 19th, the Commission allegedly disregarded the petition and allowed rights abuses against Biafrans to continue unaddressed.

In a statement posted on his online account, Ekpa pointed out that the reason cited for not acting on the petition was unfair and inconsistent with the Commission’s own rules. He claimed that the development may escalate tensions in the region as it highlights corruption and impunity taking hold at the highest levels of the African Union (AU).

According to the BRGIE, a response was received on June 19th stating that the petition would not be seized due to failure to comply with rule 115(2)(d) of the 2020 rules of procedure. Ekpa disputed this, insisting that the Commission had breached its own rules and sought further clarification on the reasoning behind its decision.

An investigation by the BRGIE revealed that the acting Secretary-General of the African Commission, Abiola Idowu-Ojo, is a Nigerian national, and had allegedly violated procedure by amending the 2020 rules. The BRGIE has further demanded an explanation for this breach and the failure of the Commission to respond, stating that it is pursuing the matter and wants to bring it to public awareness.

The development comes at a sensitive time, ahead of the BRGIE’s announced declaration of independence on December 2nd, 2024. The Nigerian government has expressed its intention to extradite Ekpa from Finland.

The implications of this action are far-reaching, given the tensions already present in the region. The issue highlights the need for effective governance and adherence to agreed-upon procedures to protect human rights and prevent unnecessary escalation.