President Bola Tinubu and Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama have reiterated their commitment to fostering dialogue between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the breakaway Sahelian nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The two leaders met behind closed doors at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, where they discussed regional security, economic cooperation, and diplomatic efforts to engage with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which cut ties with ECOWAS after military takeovers.
As ECOWAS chairman, Tinubu commended Mahama for his diplomatic efforts in reaching out to the Sahelian nations and advancing regional integration and stability.
“I am very happy with the efforts he has made to build a bridge between the AES countries and ECOWAS,” Tinubu said, emphasizing that dialogue should prioritize the welfare of ordinary citizens rather than just political interests.
“The real victims in all this are the citizens of those countries. Security and economic stability should be our priority,” he added.
President Mahama, who recently visited Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger on behalf of ECOWAS, briefed Tinubu on his engagements and the challenges of restoring ties with the military-led governments.
“I came to thank him for the honor done to me during my inauguration and to update him on the issues I encountered during my visits,” Mahama said.
Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, Mahama stressed that ongoing dialogue remains the best path forward.
“It’s not as easy as we might think, but we must continue discussions and find ways to cooperate,” he stated.
