WADEMOS urges Mahama to halt Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso ECOWAS exit

The West Africa pro-democracy Civil Society Organisations’ (CSO) network, WADEMOS, has called on the President of Ghana, John Mahama, to intervene in the impending exit of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

While congratulating Mahama on his swearing-in as the President of Ghana, the organisation praised Ghana’s peaceful transition of power, describing it as a beacon of hope for democracy in West Africa.

It said Mahama’s inauguration is coming on the heels of a frenzied subregion troubled by sustained disregard for limits on presidential terms, gross violations of human rights, and unconstitutional changes of government.

The network, in a statement on Thursday, observed that the Republic of Ghana has again distinguished itself as a haven for electoral democracy and the stability deeply longed for in many areas across the ECOWAS subregion.

It, however, expressed concern over the planned withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS.

Recall that ECOWAS, at the 66th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government and ECOWAS Commission held in Abuja in December 2024, formally approved the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the regional body.

ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, said the three countries will formally cease to be members of ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, in accordance with Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty.

WADEMOS, however, warned that the withdrawal of the three Sahel countries would pose a potential threat to regional stability and human rights.

The statement said: “As the President assumes the highest office in Ghana, and as a member of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of the ECOWAS, the Network reminds him of the enormous challenges that await his intervention, including domestic, regional, continental, and global issues. Of particular note is the maintenance of regional integration in the Community in the face of the imminent threat posed by the pending exit of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) from ECOWAS.

“The pending exit has plunged the subregion into a wave of uncertainty and posed a growing threat to human rights across the subregion.

“The Network, therefore, calls on President John Mahama to intervene as a trusted democrat and a strong believer in the ideals of our founding fathers by engaging personally with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali to halt the official exit scheduled for January 29, 2025.”

The organisation reminded the President of how this desperate state of affairs has been precipitated by the failure to observe the rights of citizens across the subregion and uphold the principles of democracy.

The network also called on President Mahama to advocate for human rights and democracy in the subregion and to support the adoption of a revised ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

It expressed confidence that President Mahama would contribute to and partake in efforts to maintain regional integration and restore stability to the troubled areas across the subregion.

“To roll back the tide of democratic backsliding and neutralise the growing hazard posed to stability across the subregion by unconstitutional changes of government and the serial breaches of presidential term limits, the Network counts on the support of President Mahama in its call for the adoption of a revised ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the standardisation of a two-term limit for all Heads of State and Government in the subregion.

“As we celebrate the giant stride of the Republic of Ghana, we urge other Heads of State to take a cue from the country’s experience to build a virile democratic structure that promotes free, fair, and credible elections, in addition to the protection of human rights and the advancement of inclusive governance,” it added.