By Our Reporter
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), taking over from Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has led the regional bloc for the past two years.
The announcement was made on Saturday during the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The summit brought together leaders from across the region to assess ECOWAS’ progress and set fresh priorities for deepening regional integration and cooperation.
In his acceptance speech, President Bio outlined four key areas his leadership will focus on: restoring constitutional order and strengthening democracy across member states, revitalising regional security collaboration, accelerating economic integration, and enhancing the institutional credibility of the bloc.
“I am honoured by the trust you have placed in me,” Bio said, promising to build on the achievements of his predecessor while tackling the pressing challenges facing the region, including political instability and economic recovery.
President Tinubu was first elected ECOWAS chairman on July 9, 2023, during the summit in Guinea-Bissau. He was re-elected in July 2024 in Abuja to ensure continuity in the bloc’s efforts to address insecurity, promote democratic governance, and foster development.
President Tinubu during his tenure as ECOWAS Chairman tackled major challenges, including military coups in member states. His leadership prioritised peace in the sub- region and saw increased diplomatic engagement and pressure on transitional governments to return to democratic rule.