Ghanaian President John Mahama visited his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
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The visit, which marks his first since his inauguration on January 7, is aimed at updating President Tinubu – who also serves as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government – about his recent diplomatic efforts in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Speaking to journalists, the Ghanaian leader explained that his trip to Nigeria was to brief President Tinubu on the progress of diplomatic engagements with the military junta leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, focusing on regional security and stability.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed his Ghanaian counterpart, John Mahama, at the State House in Abuja on March 27, 2025.
Mahama acknowledged the challenges of the regional situation but expressed confidence that continued constructive dialogue would resolve the outstanding issues between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“I came to thank him for the honor he gave me during my inauguration, and also to update him on my visits to the Sahelian countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger,” Mahama said. “I wanted to bring him up to speed with the developments and discuss the concerns raised during those visits. As ECOWAS Chairman, it’s my responsibility to brief him and continue the dialogue with those countries.”
“It’s a complex situation and not as straightforward as it seems,” Mahama continued. “We need to keep talking and find ways to engage in dialogue with one another.”
President Tinubu responded by emphasizing the importance of discussions with the three countries of the Alliance of Sahel States, stressing that regional security and prosperity were at stake.
“I’m pleased to have him here, and I appreciate his efforts in bridging the gap between the AES countries and ECOWAS. It’s a critical issue for us, given the security challenges in the Sahel and the economic opportunities we need to secure the lives and prosperity of our people,” Tinubu remarked.
“The real victims in this situation are the citizens of these countries, not the leadership. The people must be the primary focus, and their needs should guide our efforts toward resolution,” Tinubu added.
Tensions have been high between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries since military coups ousted governments in Niger in 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020. Following the coup in Niger, ECOWAS imposed severe sanctions, including border closures, a no-fly zone for commercial flights, and the freezing of central bank assets. Despite several rounds of negotiations between ECOWAS and the military juntas, no agreements have been reached.
