President John Mahama of Ghana, who is currently leading ECOWAS’s efforts to mediate with the military juntas of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Thursday, March 27, to update him on recent developments in the ongoing negotiations with these estranged states.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mahama revealed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is still engaged in discussions with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
However, he acknowledged that the talks had been complicated, urging that ECOWAS must continue its efforts to restore dialogue with the three nations, which had suspended their membership in the regional bloc following military coups.
“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,” Mahama said, emphasising the need for patience and persistence in finding a diplomatic solution.
Mahama, who was in Abuja to brief President Tinubu on the progress of these talks, explained that his visit allowed him to gather concerns from the Sahelian countries that required further discussion.
As the current Chairman of ECOWAS, President Tinubu is responsible for overseeing the bloc’s efforts in the region, and Mahama considered it vital to keep him informed of the evolving situation.
“I came to thank him for the honour done me during my inauguration but also to brief him on the visits to the Sahelian countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—and to bring him up to date with some of the issues and to discuss with him,” Mahama stated.
Mahama reaffirmed that it is his duty as ECOWAS’s mediator to continue liaising with regional leaders like President Tinubu to ensure the continuation of talks with the AES.
While addressing the media, Mahama was asked whether there was any “good news” to report from the ongoing discussions.
He responded cautiously, reiterating the complexity of the situation but maintaining that dialogue remains the best path forward.
President Tinubu’s commitment to citizen welfare
President Tinubu, who serves as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, stressed that the welfare of innocent citizens in the Sahelian countries must remain the central focus of all regional efforts.
He stated that while addressing the political concerns between the military juntas and ECOWAS, the citizens should be the “first beneficiary and the first point of reasoning together.”
“We must ensure that whatever course we take, the citizens must be the first to benefit and the first to reason with us,” Tinubu emphasised.
Tinubu also praised Mahama’s role in bridging what he described as a “crucial gap” between ECOWAS and the AES, especially given the six-month transition period that has been approved for the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso as member states.
This six-month period, which began on January 29, 2025, will run until July 29, 2025, after which ECOWAS will begin the formal process of withdrawal from the bloc, according to the resolution passed at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2024.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, had announced that the resolution provided these countries with a year to settle any outstanding financial and legal obligations to ECOWAS or its affiliated institutions.
Additionally, the bloc extended the mandates of Senegalese President Bassirou Faye and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, who have been leading the mediation efforts with the military juntas since June 2024.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso’s withdrawal from ECOWAS
The discussions with the three countries have been difficult, particularly as the military juntas in these nations have been reluctant to provide clear dates for their planned transitions back to civilian rule.
However, ECOWAS has made it clear that the bloc is committed to ensuring the welfare of the citizens in these countries is protected, irrespective of the political challenges presented by the ruling regimes.
During a December 2024 meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to pursuing diplomatic solutions to the political impasse in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
He underscored that while the military juntas may not be forthcoming with clear transition timelines, ECOWAS would prioritise the well-being of citizens and ensure they are not burdened by the actions of military leaders.
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