Europe Has Run Out of Excuses to Ignore Biafra The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has long maintained that the quest for Biafran self-de...
Europe Has Run Out of Excuses to Ignore Biafra
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has long maintained that the quest for Biafran self-determination is not a fringe issue but a fundamental human rights and justice matter rooted in historical grievances. An article by Family Writers Press International titled "Europe Cannot Ignore Biafra Anymore" captures a growing assertion from IPOB supporters and activists: European nations and institutions can no longer treat the Biafran agitation as a distant Nigerian internal affair. The movement's persistence, international outreach, and the broader context of global self-determination trends demand attention.
The Biafran struggle traces back to the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), when the predominantly Igbo southeastern region declared independence as the Republic of Biafra amid ethnic tensions, different in value system, and violence following Nigeria's 1966 coups and pogroms. The war resulted in massive loss of life estimates range from 2 to 5 million, largely due to starvation policies and ended with Biafra's reintegration into Nigeria.
Decades later, IPOB, founded by Nnamdi Kanu in 2012, revived the call for self-determination through peaceful advocacy, including broadcasts from London (via Radio Biafra), protests, and demands for a UN-supervised referendum. IPOB frames its cause as a response to ongoing marginalization, insecurity in the southeast, religious intolerance, perceived state terrorism, and failure to address the war's legacies.
Despite being labeled a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government in 2017 (a designation international observers question),
Both the United States and the European Union (including the United Kingdom) maintain that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not a terrorist organization under their respective laws, directly contradicting the Nigerian government's 2017 proscription. IPOB insists on non-violent method and has maintained peaceful approach in over 120 countries.
IPOB and its diaspora networks argue that Europe particularly the UK, as the former colonial power, and the EU has a moral and historical responsibility that it has shirked. Key points raised include:
UK's Alleged Double Standards and Silence IPOB has repeatedly accused the British government of hypocrisy. For instance, it highlights Britain's intervention in cases involving British nationals detained abroad (example a British-Egyptian case) while ignoring Nnamdi Kanu, who holds British citizenship. Kanu was abducted in Kenya in 2021, extraordinarily rendition to Nigeria, and faced trial on terrorism charges. In late 2025, he received a life sentence, prompting IPOB to call it politically motivated. Activists question whether oil interests, Commonwealth ties, or historical biases explain the UK's reluctance to press for his release or address Biafran claims.
The EU has stated it would not oppose a lawfully created Biafra (via referendum or international law) but condemns unilateral or violent seperation. IPOB appeals to the EU, UN, and others for intervention, framing Nigeria's actions as violations of human rights and international norms. Diaspora activities, including planned mega-protests in Europe aim to pressure EU institutions.
Biafran activism thrives in Europe, with IPOB units in countries like Spain, the UK, Finland. Some European voices, including economists or politicians, have expressed sympathy for Biafra's recognition, adding visibility.
Recent actions such as IPOB letters to 21 foreign missions including the EU, UK, and US in late 2025 calling for Kanu's release and probes into "state terrorism" underscore the push for international scrutiny.
Instability in Nigeria's southeast contributes to regional insecurity, potentially driving migration to Europe. If agitation escalates, it could exacerbate humanitarian crises.
Europe supports referendums and independence movements elsewhere (example, Scotland, Catalonia debates). Dismissing Biafra while engaging similar issues elsewhere invites accusations of selective concern, especially given colonial history.
With Kanu's case involving abduction and torture, silence undermines Europe's advocacy for rule of law and against arbitrary detention.
As multipolar dynamics grow, unresolved ethnic conflicts in resource-rich Africa could draw in rival powers, affecting European interests.
IPOB's message is clear: The Biafran question persists because root causes like marginalization, incompatible value system, injustice, and unaddressed history remain unresolved. Through peaceful global advocacy, diaspora mobilization, and persistent appeals, the movement asserts that Europe must engage, whether through diplomatic pressure for dialogue and support for a referendum and humanitarian intervention in Kanu's case.
The call "Europe Cannot Ignore Biafra Anymore" reflects confidence that sustained pressure, evolving global norms on self-determination, and Nigeria's internal challenges will force recognition. Whether through renewed diplomacy or international forums, the Biafran quest challenges Europe to align its principles with action on one of Africa's enduring unresolved conflicts.
No comments
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.