President Mahama Briefs Tinubu on ECOWAS Mission to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
By Raymond Enoch
The Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has provided update to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, on his recent diplomatic mission to Mali Niger and Burkina as part of his mediation effort to bring AES countries back into the fold of the ECOWAS.
The one-day working visit, is marking Mahama’s first official trip to Nigeria since his inauguration on January 7, 2025. During the meeting, Mahama, who served as the ECOWAS Special Envoy, briefed President Tinubu particularly on his engagements with the military juntas of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
These three member states had withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), resulting in significant regional tensions. Mahama shared insights from his visits to the Sahelian states and the challenges of these talks, emphasizing the complexities involved but stressing the importance of continued dialogue.
“I came to thank him for the honor done me during my inauguration and to update him on my visits to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger,” Mahama explained. “It is my responsibility to brief him as Chairman of ECOWAS and to keep the regional leaders informed as we continue our efforts to rebuild relations with these countries.”
Mahama acknowledged the intricacies of the situation but remained hopeful, stating, “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 work together.”
President Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, expressed appreciation for Mahama’s diplomatic role, recognizing his efforts in bridging the gap between ECOWAS and the AES. Tinubu reiterated that the welfare of citizens must be the primary focus of any regional efforts. “The citizens must be the first beneficiary and the first point of reasoning together,” he emphasized.
The meeting also underscored the ongoing six-month transition period, which ECOWAS had approved for Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to resolve their political issues before taking further steps toward their formal withdrawal from the organization. This period, which began on January 29, 2025, will end on July 29, 2025, after which ECOWAS plans to engage the withdrawal protocol.
ECOWAS has extended the mandates of mediators from Senegal and Togo, who have been leading diplomatic efforts with the three nations since mid-2024. President Tinubu had previously stressed during talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in December 2024 that Nigeria would continue pursuing diplomatic solutions to the political crises in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, ensuring that the citizens do not bear the brunt of military regimes’ actions.
As the deadline for the transition period approaches, ECOWAS remains focused on securing a peaceful resolution that prioritizes the needs of the citizens and regional stability. Tinubu’s leadership will be crucial in navigating these complex political dynamics as the bloc strives for unity and cooperation in the Sahel region.
