Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama invites the leaders of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso – to participate in the launch of the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, scheduled for April 22, 2025, in Accra. This initiative is part of a desire for regional mediation, as the three countries formalized their withdrawal from the West African organization in January 2025.

An extraordinary meeting on the sidelines of the festivities

On April 22 and 23, Accra will host an exceptional ECOWAS ministerial meeting to discuss the departure of the ESA. The foreign and finance ministers of the member states are preparing a report to be submitted to the heads of state. Ghana, historically committed to Pan-Africanism, plays a central role as mediator, as evidenced by Mahama’s recent diplomatic tours to Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso in March 2025.

A symbolic and strategic gesture

Mahama’s direct invitation to Sahelian leaders, as guests of the Ghanaian President, signals a desire to revive regional dialogue despite diplomatic tensions. Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasizes the interdependence of West African nations, citing shared cultural and ethnic ties.

The confirmed presence of AES leaders would be a first step toward future reintegration, although no formal commitment has yet been announced.

The Challenges of a Tense Jubilee

The choice of Ghana to launch the jubilee highlights its historic role in regional integration. The year-long celebrations will begin with the unveiling of the official logo and the theme for ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary. However, the shadow of the AES’s withdrawal looms over the event, recalling the security and political challenges facing the region.

This Ghanaian move embodies an attempt at reconciliation at a pivotal moment for West African stability, as ECOWAS seeks to preserve its unity in the face of growing geopolitical divisions.