President John Dramani Mahama addressed the breakdown of trust causing the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS, reaffirming his commitment to addressing these issues at the upcoming ECOWAS Summit. He emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust to foster cooperation among the nations, even in light of their sovereign decision to exit the bloc.

President John Dramani Mahama has conveyed that the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stems from a significant breakdown of trust. This statement was made following a closed-door meeting with Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the military ruler of Burkina Faso, on March 10, 2025, where President Mahama expressed his commitment to address these critical issues at the forthcoming ECOWAS Summit.

During his briefing to the media, President Mahama assured Captain Traoré that he would present the concerns of the junta-led nations at the next ECOWAS assembly. He remarked, “There’s a breakdown of trust, and while rebuilding it will take time, we must work towards restoring confidence so we can collaborate, even if we are not part of the same regional body.”

Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso declared their exit from ECOWAS in January 2024, having already faced suspensions from the bloc due to their deviation from democratic governance. The governments of these three nations maintain that their withdrawal from ECOWAS is a sovereign decision, reflecting their autonomy and self-governance.

In summary, the remarks made by President Mahama highlight the crucial issue of trust in the relationship between Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and ECOWAS. As these countries navigate their decision to withdraw from the regional body, the focus remains on rebuilding collaboration and confidence among the nations, despite their current stance.

Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com

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