Key points:
- Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana urge Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to rejoin ECOWAS
- The three nations left ECOWAS in January, forming the AES alliance
- Leaders stress unity, security cooperation, and democratic transition
COTE d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara and Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama have called on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to reconsider their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Speaking at a joint press conference in Abidjan on Wednesday, Mahama offered to act as a mediator between ECOWAS and the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES), urging reconciliation and a return to constitutional democracy.
ECOWAS split deepens regional tensions
The three countries, all led by military juntas following coups between 2020 and 2023, officially withdrew from ECOWAS on 29 January 2025. Their exit followed tensions with the regional bloc, particularly after ECOWAS imposed economic sanctions on Niger and threatened military intervention following its July 2023 coup.
While ECOWAS later lifted the sanctions, the military leaders accused the bloc of failing to support their fight against jihadist insurgencies and alleged that it was overly influenced by France, their former colonial ruler.
Appeal for unity and security cooperation
Ouattara voiced his support for Mahama’s mediation, saying, ‘I hope that President Mahama’s appeal will be heard by these three brother countries so we can continue together within ECOWAS.’
Mahama stressed the importance of collective security, stating, ‘When your neighbour’s house is on fire, you must help put it out before it spreads.’ He plans to visit the three nations soon to facilitate dialogue.
Despite previous mediation efforts by Togo and Senegal, the military governments insist their departure is ‘irreversible.’ However, Ouattara maintains that bringing them back into ECOWAS is crucial for regional stability.
Regional economy and future cooperation
Beyond politics, Ouattara and Mahama discussed defence, security, and economic cooperation, particularly in the cocoa industry, where both Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are global leaders.
As West Africa navigates these divisions, efforts to bridge the rift between ECOWAS and the AES bloc remain ongoing, with hopes of fostering long-term stability in the region.
