Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio is the new ECOWAS Chair after Abuja summit.
He promises to strengthen democracy, boost economic ties, and enhance regional security.
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, has been named the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), taking over from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The decision was reached during the ECOWAS Summit held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where heads of state gathered to assess the regional body’s performance and set new goals for integration and development.
During his time as ECOWAS chairman, President Tinubu focused on regional security, economic cooperation, and restoring democratic rule in countries affected by military coups. His leadership played a role in pushing back against unconstitutional takeovers and promoting unity within the bloc.
There had been earlier reports suggesting that Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was chosen to lead the regional group in a closed-door meeting before the official session began. However, those claims were dismissed following the public announcement of President Bio’s appointment.
In his acceptance speech, President Bio laid out four major priorities for his tenure. He pledged to work towards restoring constitutional governance in member states, improving regional security partnerships, promoting stronger economic ties among countries, and strengthening the credibility of ECOWAS institutions.
President Tinubu was first selected to lead the body on July 9, 2023, during a summit in Guinea-Bissau, and was reappointed in Abuja a year later to help maintain progress on key regional goals.
