Mahama Invites Sahel Leaders to ECOWAS Summit Despite Breakaway

President John Mahama has extended a bold invitation to the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to attend the upcoming ECOWAS summit in Accra, despite the countries officially cutting ties with the regional bloc earlier this year.

The summit, which also marks the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS, is expected to gather leaders from across West Africa to discuss peace, trade, and unity.

Mahama, who is hosting the event, made the decision to personally reach out to the Sahel leaders, hoping to create space for dialogue and potential reconciliation.

According to Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the invitation was made directly by President Mahama himself since the three nations are no longer formal ECOWAS members.

“Because of the divorce from ECOWAS, it requires the host president to be solely responsible for that invitation,” Ablakwa explained at the launch of the anniversary celebrations. “So they will come as guests of the Ghanaian president.”

Earlier this year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from ECOWAS and formed their own regional alliance called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Their exit raised concerns across West Africa, especially about cross-border trade, security cooperation, and diplomatic ties.

But Mahama’s move is being seen as a gesture of goodwill aimed at healing the rift

“In the spirit of goodwill and seeking to foster reunification… when President Mahama discussed with his colleagues that he wanted to invite the AES heads of state, he did not face any opposition. That’s a good sign,” Ablakwa added.

President Mahama has also kept ECOWAS Chair President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria in the loop about his efforts.

Ablakwa confirmed that Mahama will be given a chance at the next ECOWAS summit to present a full report on his talks with the military governments.

Still, some experts are skeptical about how far this effort will go.

Fatau Musa, an ECOWAS affairs analyst, said the Sahel countries have had a history of lukewarm engagement with the rest of West Africa.

“They’ve been reticent about collaboration since as far back as 2007,” Musa noted, adding that their reluctance continued even when ECOWAS tried to develop a broader Sahel strategy.

Even so, many are watching to see whether this unexpected invitation might spark a new chapter of cooperation in the region.