President Julius Maada Bio has called on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to maintain dialogue with their West African neighbours, saying the region will be stronger and safer if countries continue talking despite their differences.
Bio made the appeal on Monday, October 12, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Geneva Peace Forum in Switzerland, held under the theme “Choose Peace.”
Addressing regional tensions, the Sierra Leonean leader urged the three countries not to allow political differences to permanently undermine cooperation with the rest of West Africa.
“To our brothers and sisters in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, I say this. Our people share a history, a market, and a future,” Bio said.
“Whatever our differences, West Africa is stronger and safer when we keep talking.”
The three countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2025 and subsequently moved forward with their Alliance of Sahel States, also known as the AES.
Bio, who previously served as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said his experience leading the regional bloc had taught him that lasting peace cannot be imposed from outside.
“It must be owned by the region, supported by the world, and built on mutual respect,” he said.
The President stressed that diplomatic engagement remains essential to preventing conflict and maintaining regional stability, urging leaders to keep communication channels open even when disagreements are difficult to resolve.
He also called on the international community to prioritise conflict prevention rather than waiting until violence has escalated before intervening.
Bio’s appeal comes amid efforts to preserve regional cooperation following the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS, which has raised concerns about the future of regional integration, security cooperation and trade.
The President said peace requires political courage, sustained dialogue and a willingness to address differences before they escalate into conflict.
He urged participants at the Geneva Peace Forum to turn commitments to peace into practical action, arguing that preventing conflict must become a central responsibility of political leadership.