Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Bio, has taken over as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, succeeding Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu whose two-year leadership tenure has ended.
The handover ceremony took place at the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
This was contrary to earlier speculations that President Bassirou Faye of Senegal was elected during a private meeting held prior to the commencement of the session.
President Bio, in his inaugural speech, outlined four key areas of focus for his tenure namely: restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy, revitalising regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration and building institutional credibility.
In his farewell address, President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the leaders for entrusting him with the chairman role twice.
He emphasised the importance of cooperation among member states to achieve peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Tinubu also urged leaders to remain vigilant and responsive to the evolving needs of West African citizens, prioritising inclusive growth and democratic values ¹ ².
With President Bio at the helm, ECOWAS is expected to navigate complex regional challenges, including security threats, democratic setbacks, and economic pressures.
