Introduction
The dynamics in West Africa have changed since the last couple of years, with the region facing an increasing tide of military coups, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Military coups in these countries, amid growing insecurity, have shaken the very foundations of democracy and governance within the region. These countries had their democratically elected governments overthrown by military juntas, ostensibly for not effectively handling jihadist insurgencies and instability inside their borders. Ghana has previously been a strong advocate of democratization and played an instrumental role in trying to reinstate constitutional order in the sub-region, more so after the recent coup in Niger, while balancing regional diplomacy in the face of rising tensions.
The surprising visit of Captain Ibrahim Toure, the military leader of Burkina Faso, to Ghana for the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama in January 2025 has added a new chapter to the political narrative of West Africa. This event, while symbolizing a potential thawing of relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso, also offers a deeper insight into the broader implications for regional relations, the role of ECOWAS, and the shifting alliances in the face of military rule. The geopolitical scenario in the Sahel, coupled with Ghana’s central involvement in ECOWAS’s plans for intervention in Niger, has further complicated the political terrain, particularly in light of the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Military Coups in West Africa: A Region in Crisis
The wave of military coups in West Africa began in earnest with the 2020 coup in Mali, when Colonel Assimi Goita ousted the elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The coup was driven by widespread public dissatisfaction with Keïta’s inability to address escalating Islamist insurgencies and internal unrest. Despite initial condemnation, Goita’s government was able to consolidate power, and Mali’s junta declared its intent to tackle security challenges by any means necessary. This instability spread to Burkina Faso, where, in January 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba led a coup against President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, citing the government’s failure to protect the country from jihadist attacks. Damiba’s rule, however, lasted less than a year, as Captain Ibrahim Toure orchestrated another coup in September 2022. Toure’s coup, like the previous ones, was justified by the failure of the government to effectively combat the rising tide of extremism in the northern regions of the country.
In 2023, Niger also fell to a military junta, as Colonel Abdourahamane Tiani ousted the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. This marked the third coup in the region within a span of just three years, further undermining the fragile democratic structures in West Africa. The political crises in these countries were mirrored by a growing sense of disillusionment with ECOWAS, the regional organization tasked with ensuring political stability and security.
ECOWAS’s Response: Intervention Plans and Tensions with the AES
In the wake of the coup in Niger, under the stewardship of Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, the subregional ECOWAS had tried to seek a restitution of democratic order and even threatened military intervention. Quite clearly, this is the stand of ECOWAS: that it cannot countenance any derailment of democratic governance within the subregion. The subregional organization placed sanctions on the junta and demanded the immediate release of President Bazoum, currently under house arrest. But in relation to these events, the contribution of Ghana to the ECOWAS reaction was very important, considering that this country took military intervention as part of the plan for restoration of the elected president.
Ghana’s position in ECOWAS was somewhat controversial, as the threat of military intervention in Niger raised concerns among neighboring countries, particularly those already under military rule—Mali and Burkina Faso. The possibility of an ECOWAS-led military intervention in Niger prompted a strong response from Mali and Burkina Faso, who were united in their opposition to external interference in the region’s internal affairs. Both countries, under military rule, had faced similar challenges and expressed solidarity with the junta in Niger, perceiving ECOWAS’s intervention as a violation of national sovereignty and the rights of military governments to self-determination.
In response to the escalating tensions over the possibility of intervention, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in late 2023. The AES was a direct countermeasure to ECOWAS’s position and was intended to create a collective defense and political framework for countries facing similar challenges. The alliance aimed to ensure that any invasion into one of its member states, especially Niger, would be responded to uniformly and militarily within the region. The creation of AES underlined the fragmentation in regional cooperation as countries previously ruled by military juntas moved to neutralize the influence and interventionist policies of ECOWAS.
The Role of Russia and Geopolitical Shifts
Equally compounding was the growing involvement of Russia in the Sahel. In the process of hardening its stance against military coups, ECOWAS saw Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger increasingly look to Russia as a partner in counter-terrorism and against instability. The influence of Russia in these countries could be seen through the presence of the Wagner Group, a private military company linked to the Russian government. More recently, Burkina Faso had been accused of hiring Russian mercenaries to bolster its fight against insurgents. This development came as a direct challenge to the traditional Western security architecture in the region, further straining Burkina Faso’s relations with ECOWAS and Ghana.
In a speech at the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in December 2023, President Akufo-Addo of Ghana raised concerns about the growing Russian presence in the Sahel, particularly in Burkina Faso, accusing the country of inviting Russian mercenaries. This accusation added to the tension between Ghana and Burkina Faso, with sovereignty and foreign influence becoming key points of contention. The deployment of Russian mercenaries was seen as a direct challenge to ECOWAS’s authority and West Africa’s historical relationships with France and other Western powers. Ghana, which had traditionally maintained strong diplomatic ties with Western nations, particularly the United States and France, found itself in a delicate position, balancing its commitments to ECOWAS with the realities of shifting alliances in the region.
At the CISA Security Conference in November 2024, Ambassador Olivia of Burkina Faso made a plea for ECOWAS to reconcile with the AES, emphasizing that regional progress could only be achieved if all parties worked together. She called for a shift in the approach to regional security, one that would include the interests of the Sahelian countries and acknowledge the region’s growing ties with non-Western powers like Russia.
Amb. Olivia’s appeal reflected a broader frustration within Burkina Faso and its allies in the AES, who felt that ECOWAS was too focused on preserving the status quo and adhering to democratic principles without considering the underlying security challenges facing the region. The insurgencies and increasing instability in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger were seen as existential threats, and military juntas in these countries believed they needed greater autonomy to tackle these issues. Olivia’s comments resonated with those who believed that ECOWAS needed to adapt to the changing political realities of West Africa and work toward a more inclusive framework for peace and stability.
Captain Toure’s Visit to Ghana: A Symbol of Changing Tides
The visit of Captain Ibrahim Toure to Ghana for the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama on January 7, 2025, was a momentous event in the region’s ongoing diplomatic shifts. The presence of Toure at Mahama’s inauguration symbolized the potential for thawed relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso, two countries that had been on opposite sides of the regional divide in recent years. Despite the tense political context, the event was widely discussed and celebrated by citizens in both countries as a sign of hope for improved relations.
For Ghana, the visit underscored its ability to maintain diplomatic ties with both ECOWAS and the AES. As Ghana navigated its role in ECOWAS’s plans to intervene in Niger, it was important for the country to maintain strong relationships with its neighbors, particularly Burkina Faso. The visit of Toure also highlighted the importance of personal diplomacy in overcoming regional divides, as well as Ghana’s commitment to fostering peaceful relations, even with nations that were at odds with ECOWAS’s policies.
The visit was a good opportunity for Burkina Faso to show its willingness to open up to the rest of the West African community, including Ghana. This was supposed to be a step in the process of rebuilding confidence and normalizing bilateral relations, even as challenges of military governance and foreign powers like Russia still prevail.
Implications for Ghana
From current political and diplomatic trends in West Africa, several important lessons can be learned:
1. Diplomatic engagement is important: the ability of Ghana to engage with both ECOWAS and AES underscores the importance of diplomacy in a region that is so fragmented. While there are tensions with neighboring countries, continuous engagement has helped Ghana take up a very strategic position in the interest of dialogue and stability in the region.
2. The Need for Regional Unity: Despite the growing fragmentation within ECOWAS and the formation of AES, Ghana’s position should emphasize the need for regional unity. In a region faced with terrorism, coups, and instability, it is necessary that all West African countries work together on common security issues, even if they differ politically.
4. Managing External Influence: With the increase in Russia’s influence in the region, Ghana needs to handle its foreign relations very carefully, balancing the already established alliances with Western nations and the changing geopolitical dynamics in the Sahel. This might call for a re-evaluation of its attitude toward the interventionist policies of ECOWAS while maintaining national sovereignty.
Conclusion
The role of Ghana as a mediator and a stabilizing factor in West Africa is very crucial. However, with the political landscape changing, it is crucial that the country takes the lead in ensuring confidence-building measures amongst all stakeholders, including military juntas, to have a more stable and secure West Africa. This new development in West Africa requires careful attention to regional political dynamics, security issues, and diplomatic strategies. Relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso, and the regional response in general to military coups and external pressure, will go a long way in determining the future trajectory of the Sahel and West Africa as a whole.
