Nigeria: Mahama briefs Tinubu on ECOWAS talks with Niger, Mali, B’Faso
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
President John Mahama of Ghana has briefed President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria on the recent negotiations with the military juntas of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Mahama, who is the mediator for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), revealed that talks have been complicated, but the bloc will continue to dialogue with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Mahama visited President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja to update him on the recent developments. He noted that his visits to the Sahelian countries allowed him to gather issues of concern that needed further discussion. As the Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu has been briefed on the progress of the negotiations.
According to Mahama, the situation is complex, and it’s not as easy as they think. He emphasized the need for continued dialogue to find a solution. President Tinubu reaffirmed that the welfare of innocent citizens must remain at the heart of all regional efforts to rebuild relations with estranged members of ECOWAS.
Tinubu praised Mahama’s role in bridging the gap between ECOWAS and the AES. The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government had declared a six-month transition period for the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso as member states. The transition period, which began on January 29, will end on July 29, 2025.
During this period, ECOWAS will engage with the withdrawing states to settle financial and legal obligations. The bloc has also extended the mandates of Senegalese President Bassirou Faye and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, who have been leading ECOWAS’s mediation efforts with the three withdrawing states.
President Tinubu has emphasized the importance of pursuing diplomatic solutions to the political impasse in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. He has argued that the interest and welfare of the citizens must be prioritized, and ECOWAS will continue to engage with the AES to find a peaceful resolution.
