On Thursday, Ghana’s President John Mahama paid a visit to his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja. This marks Mahama’s first visit since Tinubu’s inauguration on January 7, during which he aimed to update Tinubu—who also serves as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government—on his recent trip to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
In a briefing with journalists, Mahama explained that his purpose in Nigeria was to inform Tinubu about ongoing diplomatic efforts with the military leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, focusing on regional security and stability. He recognized the complexities surrounding these regional issues but expressed confidence that continued constructive dialogue would lead to resolutions between the Alliance of Sahel States and the Economic Community of West African States.
“I came to express my gratitude for the honor extended to me during my inauguration and to update him on my visits to the Sahelian nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. It is essential to discuss the concerns raised during those visits, especially as ECOWAS chairman, to ensure ongoing dialogue with these countries. The true victims in this situation are the citizens of those nations, not the leaders. They must be the primary beneficiaries and the focal point of our discussions.”
Tensions have escalated between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries since military coups occurred in Niger in 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020. Following the coup in Niger, ECOWAS implemented severe sanctions, including border closures, a no-fly zone for commercial flights, and the freezing of central bank assets. Although negotiations between ECOWAS and the military juntas have been ongoing, they have yet to yield successful outcomes.
