President John Dramani Mahama has said that relations between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States — made up of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — are showing signs of improvement after months of strained ties.
Speaking in Accra on Friday,July 18 during a meeting with American philanthropist Alexander Soros, Mr Mahama revealed that since taking office in January, his administration has prioritised rebuilding trust with the three military-led countries, which had distanced themselves from the regional bloc following coups.
“One of the first things I did was to invite the leaders [of the Alliance of Sahel States] to my inauguration,” he said. “After that, I visited all three countries and tried to establish a channel of communication and continuous dialogue with them.”
He noted a marked shift in tone during the most recent ECOWAS Heads of State summit, held three weeks ago, where discussions moved from confrontation to cooperation.
“Happily, the whole mood has changed,” he said. “There is now an appetite for rapprochement between ECOWAS and the three countries.”
Mr Mahama confirmed that talks are underway between the ECOWAS Secretariat and the Sahelian states, with a mutual understanding that some regional protocols may need to be eased to facilitate the free movement of people and goods.
“For now, we all agree — let people move freely, let goods be able to cross borders,” he explained. “Most of the countries that imposed sanctions have virtually lifted them.”
He described the lifting of sanctions as a significant step towards restoring unity and normalcy within the West African region, adding that the current atmosphere offers a new platform for deeper diplomatic engagement.
