President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has been appointed the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, taking over from Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose two-term tenure officially ended.
The leadership handover occurred during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Contrary to earlier speculations that Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye would emerge as the next chair following closed-door consultations, President Bio was formally announced and inaugurated during the session.
In his acceptance speech, Bio outlined four core priorities for his tenure:
· Restoring constitutional order and strengthening democracy
· Revitalising regional security cooperation
· Unlocking economic integration
· Building institutional credibility
Outgoing Chairman Tinubu, who was first elected in July 2023 in Guinea-Bissau and re-elected in 2024, thanked regional leaders for their trust and support during his leadership.
“As we look forward to the future of West Africa, I remain positive that with continued cooperation, ECOWAS will achieve greater heights in peace, security, and prosperity,” Tinubu said.
Reflecting on the region’s political and security challenges over the past two years, he stressed the need for vigilance, proactive leadership, and a balanced approach to economic integration, democracy, and security concerns.
“Our organisation must strike a fine balance between economic integration and the complex political, security, and democratic challenges facing our region,” he added.
Tinubu also urged regional leaders to prioritize youth, women, and vulnerable groups as central to West Africa’s future and called for deeper diplomatic and economic collaboration.
President Bio takes the reins of ECOWAS at a critical time marked by political instability, military takeovers, and the recent withdrawal of three member states—Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—who formed a rival alliance. He faces the challenge of restoring cohesion within the bloc while driving forward economic and institutional reforms.
