President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received Ghanaian President John Mahama at the State House in Abuja, commending his diplomatic engagements with the military leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, emphasized that ongoing diplomatic efforts aim to strengthen security and economic stability in the Sahel region.
Mahama visited the Presidential Villa to brief Tinubu on his discussions with the leaders of the three Sahelian nations, addressing concerns over regional stability following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Responding, Tinubu reaffirmed the importance of maintaining dialogue with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to protect civilians and promote economic opportunities.
“I feel good that he is here in the first place. I am indeed very happy with the efforts he has made to have a bridge between the AES countries and ECOWAS. It’s not a bad idea for us because of the security situation in the Sahel region and what economic opportunities we must embark on to ensure security and prosperity for our citizens,” Tinubu stated.
Mahama acknowledged the complexities surrounding the situation but assured that continued engagement could help resolve outstanding issues between the AES states and ECOWAS.
“It’s a complicated situation, and it’s not as easy as we think. We just need to continue to dialogue and see how we can work together,” Mahama said.
Despite the official withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS, the regional bloc has extended a six-month grace period, allowing the countries to reconsider their decision and rejoin the community.
