President John Dramani Mahama has called for sustained engagement between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), warning that regional peace and stability depend on continued dialogue rather than isolation.
The President made the call after his installation as Aare Atayeto Oodua of the Source by the Ooni of Ife at Ile-Ife in Nigeria’s Osun State.
He noted that recent security and political developments, including a failed coup attempt in Benin and the overthrow of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, underscore the fragile state of the sub-region.
According to President Mahama, these challenges must not be allowed to derail collective efforts at regional integration, stressing that exclusion would only worsen tensions.
He said, “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. I believe that it shouldn’t deter us because God put us in this sub-region together for a purpose and so I believe that instead of ostracising them we must work to continue to build a bridge between ECOWAS and our brothers in the Sahel because our destinies are tied together.”
Drawing on a Ghanaian proverb to illustrate the interconnected nature of regional security, President Mahama added, “In Ghana they say if there’s fire burning in your neighbour’s house take water and go and help him to quench the fire because when he finishes burning his house it will spread into your house. And so we must continue to build bridges with our brothers in the AES countries and continue to encourage them to come back into the fold.”
He emphasized that only cooperation and dialogue can ensure lasting stability and shared prosperity within the West African sub-region.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
