Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – In a climate of escalating tensions between Mali and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Alioune Tine, founder of Afrikajom Center and a prominent human rights advocate, has called for constructive dialogue and mutual respect. His remarks come in response to statements by Mali’s transitional leader, General Assimi Goïta, who controversially described ECOWAS as a “terrorist group.”

General Goïta’s incendiary remarks were a reaction to ECOWAS’s sanctions on Mali and Niger, which he denounced as heavy-handed and unjustifiable. The sanctions followed military takeovers in both countries, which have strained relations between the regional bloc and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Tine emphasized the need for a reassessment of relations between ECOWAS and the AES. He warned against allowing the two groups to view each other as adversaries, urging instead for a collaborative approach.

“Africans must maintain a minimum of mutual respect among themselves,” Tine wrote, stressing the importance of dialogue over conflict. He advocated for a unified effort to address critical regional issues such as peace, security, and reconciliation, which he described as essential for stability in the Sahel.

Tine also criticized the region’s susceptibility to becoming a battleground for international power struggles, calling on African nations to avoid being “relays in the struggles for influence of the great powers” in the Sahel.

While acknowledging the difficulties faced by Mali and Niger, Tine underscored the urgency of seeking peaceful solutions. “We must stop opposing each other and seek solutions together,” he said, stressing the need for respectful engagement between ECOWAS and the AES.

He concluded by highlighting that lasting peace and security in West Africa depend on sincere collaboration and a collective commitment to overcoming the region’s challenges.