Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Issue Quite Complex – Mahama Tells Tinubu
- Canvasses continuous dialogue, engagement
Ghanaian President John Mahama says the current disagreement between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and three breakaway Sahelian countries, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, is quite complicated and requires continuous engagement by all concerned.
He said the complex nature of the situation demands dialogue and understanding on all sides, noting that such represent the most reasonable pathway to peace and unity within the West African sub-region.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, President Mahama demanded deeper reflection on the issues in order to achieve the expected results of uniting countries in West Africa.
Acknowledging the complexities of the regional crisis and the need for continuous constructive dialogue on all pending issues between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES by its French acronym), he said; “I came to thank him (President Tinubu) for the honour done me during my inauguration but also to brief him on the visits to the Sahealean countries Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and to bring him up to date with some of the issues and to discuss with him.
“As ECOWAS Chairman, its my duty to come and brief him on the some of the concerns that were raised there so that we continue to dialogue with those other countries. Well it’s a complicated situation and it’s not as easy as we think. We just need to continue to dialogue and see how we can continue to dialogue together”.
In his response, President Tinubu described the Ghanaian Leader’s engagement with the three AES countries as essential to safeguarding lives and fostering prosperity across the region.
He said; “I feel good that he is here in the first place. I am indeed very happy with the efforts he has made to have a bridge between the AES countries and the ECOWAS.
“It’s not a bad idea for us because of the security situation in the Sahel region and what economic opportunity that we must embark to ensure security of lives and prosperity of our citizens.
“The innocent people in this episode are the citizens of those countries not much about us the leadership. The citizens must be the first beneficiary and the first point of reasons together.”
He said the security situation in the Sahel region, if not checked, would deprive the region of economic opportunities, hence there was a need to embrace dialogue to ensure security of lives and prosperity of citizens.
Relations between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries have been tense since the Military seized power in Niger in 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
After the Niger coup, ECOWAS imposed crippling sanctions on the country, such as border closures, a no-fly zone for all commercial flights and the freezing of central bank assets. Negotiations between sub-Regional bloc and the juntas have taken place since then but with no success.
While specifically addressing issues around his discussions and engagement with authorities of the three nations, the Ghanaian Leader said; “Well, it is a complicated situation and it is not as easy as we think. We just need to continue to dialogue and see how we can continue to dialogue together.”
Following his inauguration, President Mahama has been playing a proactive role in addressing the diplomatic crisis between the parties with his efforts focused on fostering dialogue, rebuilding trust and promoting regional stability.
He has so far embarked on a mediation tour, visiting Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso; with discussions revolving around trade, security and development.
In Mali where he engaged Transitional President Assimi Goïta, the Ghanaian President stressed the need for constructive relations between ECOWAS and the AES.
Advocating mutual respect and cooperation, Mahama noted that the AES is an irrevocable reality and that the priority should be to establish dignified relations between the two blocs.
His engagement in Niger Republic focused on counter-terrorism efforts and economic cooperation with Transitional President Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Similarly, Mahama’s visit to Burkina Faso saw robust engagement with Captain Ibrahim Traoré, that focused on bilateral cooperation and regional security.
Unsuccessful Efforts To Woo AES
Efforts to reintegrate the AES back into the ECOWAS have been multifaceted, involving diplomacy, mediation and strategic concessions.
One of the earliest steps taken by the ECOWAS was the deployment of high-level envoys to the AES countries. These envoys engaged in dialogue with the transitional governments, emphasising the importance of regional cooperation and the benefits of remaining within the ECOWAS. The discussions often revolved around shared security concerns, particularly the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the Sahel region.
Besides, the ECOWAS lifted many of the sanctions imposed on the exiting countries, especially Niger.
The ECOWAS had also extended a six-month grace period to the AES countries, allowing them time to reconsider their decision to leave the bloc. This extension, which began in January 2025, was accompanied by an open invitation for further negotiations. The aim was to create a conducive environment for dialogue and to address the grievances that led to the AES’s withdrawal.
In addition to diplomatic efforts, the ECOWAS sought to address some of the underlying issues that contributed to the AES’s departure. These included concerns about economic marginalisation, the perceived dominance of certain member states, and the influence of external powers in the ECOWAS decision-making.
By acknowledging these issues, the ECOWAS aimed to rebuild trust and demonstrate its willingness to adapt to the changing dynamics of the region.
Defiant AES Countries
Establishing the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the three countries exited the ECOWAS on January 29, 2025 after a one-year notice. Their complaints centered mostly on France’s interference in the activities of the regional bloc as well as inability to prioritize their mounting security challenges.
Largely maintaining its stand, the AES has cited the need for greater autonomy and a focus on its own security and development priorities, even as they have gone on to develop their own travel documents and joint security outfits to counter the threatening security challenges of the three countries.
Additionally, the trio made a significant move by launching new biometric passports, an initiative that reflects their commitment to modernising security features and asserting their independence from the ECOWAS.
Burkina Faso led the way in September 2024, unveiling a passport that notably omitted the ECOWAS logo, making a bold political statement.
Designed to enhance security and facilitate travel within the AES and beyond, the new passports align with the AES’s broader goals of establishing a common market, enabling free movement of persons, fostering regional integration, and also highlighting their focus on a distinct identity separate from ECOWAS.
Also, on Wednesday, Niger’s junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, was sworn in as the country’s president for a transition period of five years under a new charter that replaces the West African nation’s constitution.
The Secretary General of the regime, Mahamane Roufai recently explained that the five-year “flexible” transition period began on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Tchiani, an army veteran, was also elevated to the country’s highest military rank of army general and signed a decree dissolving all political parties.
The move further cemented Tchiani’s grip on power since June 2023, when he led soldiers in a coup that deposed the country’s elected government. This development defied attempts by ECOWAS to quicken the return to democracy after the 2023 coup. – With additional reports from Daily Trust
