Austrian economist and outspoken pro-NATO commentator Gunther Fehlinger has called on the United States and the European Union to support the creation of a “Biafra Republic”, declaring that Nigeria has collapsed as a state.
Posting on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Fehlinger addressed both the U.S. President and European institutions, declaring: “I call America to liberate Biafra Republic.”
He further urged the EU to recognise the emerging entity and atone for its perceived failure during the 1967–70 civil war.
Fehlinger described Nigeria as a “failed nation” and argued that the international community bears responsibility for having “failed Biafra” during its bid for independence from 1967 to 1970. His remarks place the longstanding separatist claim for a Biafran state back in the global spotlight.
The appeal arrives amid growing allegations of religious and ethnic violence in Nigeria, particularly in the Igbo-dominated southeast, where the idea of a revived Biafra continues to surface. Fehlinger’s intervention could amplify external attention to domestic tensions between Nigeria’s federal government and secessionist movements.
Nigeria’s government has not yet responded publicly to Fehlinger’s call. Analysts say the statement may have limited immediate diplomatic impact, but it highlights how foreign voices are increasingly engaging in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
The call also intersects with wider geopolitical dynamics: Fehlinger’s pro-NATO orientation and his mention of the EU and U.S. suggest his appeal is as much a strategic positioning as it is a normative argument for self-determination.
Whether Fehlinger’s statement prompts any diplomatic or policy move remains uncertain. Still, his public plea sharpens the debate around Nigeria’s unity, regional stability and the international community’s role in the Biafra question.
