Ghana’s former President John Mahama met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Thursday as part of his ongoing diplomatic efforts to reinforce regional unity and cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The visit follows Mahama’s recent meetings with the leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—three countries that officially withdrew from ECOWAS in January to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
During his discussions with Tinubu, Mahama emphasized the need to strengthen ECOWAS institutions and enhance economic and security cooperation, particularly in the face of rising terrorist threats in the region. He also briefed Tinubu on his talks with Sahelian leaders, advocating for improved diplomatic relations between ECOWAS and the AES, despite ongoing political tensions.
Mahama has positioned himself as a key mediator in the evolving dynamics between ECOWAS and the AES, working to prevent further fragmentation in West Africa. His discussions with Sahel leaders focused on securing bilateral agreements on energy, infrastructure, and security cooperation, while also seeking common ground to maintain dialogue between the two blocs.
His meeting with Tinubu is seen as a crucial step in ensuring ECOWAS remains united while exploring diplomatic channels to address the concerns of its former member states.
