President John Dramani Mahama has called on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to broaden their counterterrorism partnerships by allowing willing international partners to support efforts to combat violent extremism in the Sahel.
He argued that stronger cooperation with foreign allies, particularly in intelligence sharing and military training, could help the three countries confront the persistent security threats affecting the region.
President Mahama made the appeal during an interview at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London, where he discussed regional security challenges and the need for a coordinated response to terrorism in West Africa.
The three countries, which form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have pursued a security approach centred on greater regional autonomy and reduced reliance on some traditional Western partners.
However, President Mahama believes that countries willing to contribute to the fight against terrorism should be given the opportunity to assist, rather than being excluded from regional security efforts.
“So in Ghana, we work with the UK, we work with Germany, we work with France, we work with US. We share intelligence, we do training together, you know,” he said.
He added: “So I believe that the AES countries should open up so that anybody who’s interested in assisting in the fight against terrorism should be able to do so.”
Ghana’s partnerships as a model
President Mahama pointed to Ghana’s security cooperation with the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the United States as an example of how international partnerships can strengthen national efforts against terrorism.
He said intelligence sharing and joint training formed part of Ghana’s collaboration with these countries, enabling security agencies to work with international partners in addressing common threats.
His comments suggest that West African countries could benefit from a more inclusive approach that draws on the expertise and resources of willing partners to tackle violent extremism.
The President’s appeal comes as insecurity continues to affect parts of the Sahel, where militant groups have carried out attacks that threaten civilian populations, state institutions and regional stability.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have faced persistent security challenges and have established the AES as a framework for cooperation among themselves.
Call for a new regional security framework
Beyond international assistance, President Mahama stressed the importance of developing a new framework for regional cooperation to address terrorism and other security threats more effectively.
He indicated that West African countries needed stronger mechanisms for working together, particularly as violent extremism poses challenges that extend beyond national borders.
Such cooperation, he suggested, should enable countries to combine their capabilities and coordinate responses to threats that affect the wider region.
The appeal also highlights the importance of maintaining dialogue among West African states despite differences in their political and diplomatic relationships with international partners.
For Ghana, cooperation with foreign security partners remains part of its approach to counterterrorism, which President Mahama believes could offer lessons for countries confronting similar threats.
His call to the AES countries centres on expanding opportunities for international support while strengthening the regional coordination needed to confront terrorism across West Africa.
