President John Dramani Mahama has called for renewed diplomatic engagement between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Sahel countries that have recently withdrawn from the regional bloc, urging leaders to prioritise dialogue and unity over isolation.

Speaking in Ife State, Nigeria, on Monday, 15 December, President Mahama said the West African sub-region is facing significant security and political challenges, particularly in the Sahel, and stressed that these developments should not weaken the collective resolve of ECOWAS.

“Our sub-region is facing challenges; we all know what is happening in the Sahel. Three of our members have decided to break away and form the AES,” he noted.

“I believe that this shouldn’t deter us, because God put us in this sub-region together for a purpose.”

President Mahama argued that the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger should not lead to their isolation.

Instead, he urged ECOWAS leaders to pursue engagement and cooperation, emphasising the shared history and interconnected destinies of the region.

“I believe that instead of ostracising them, we must work to continue building the bridge between ECOWAS and our brothers in the Sahel, because our destinies are tied together,” he said.

Using a Ghanaian proverb to illustrate the need for collective responsibility, President Mahama warned of the wider implications of instability in neighbouring states. “In Ghana, they say, ‘If there is fire burning in your neighbour’s house, take water and go help him to quench the fire, because when it finishes burning his house, it will spread to your house,’” he stated.

He further underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and reconciliation, calling on ECOWAS to maintain open channels with the AES countries and encourage their eventual return to the regional bloc.

“We must continue to build bridges with our brothers in the AES countries and continue to encourage them to come back to the fold,” President Mahama added.