President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone on Sunday took over as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He succeeded President Bola Tinubu, who ruled for a two-term tenure leading the West African bloc.
The formal handover ceremony took place during the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority, convened in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
This development put to rest earlier speculation that Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye might have been chosen for the role during private discussions preceding the main session.
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In his inaugural address, Mr Bio outlined his administration’s core priorities for the regional body.
These include a renewed focus on reinforcing constitutional governance and fostering deeper democratic principles, invigorating collaborative efforts in regional security, unlocking greater economic integration among member states, and bolstering the credibility of ECOWAS institutions.
Mr Tinubu initially assumed the ECOWAS chairmanship on July 9, 2023, in Guinea-Bissau, and was re-elected for a second term in Abuja exactly one year later on July 7, 2024.
His re-election was a collective decision by regional leaders to ensure continuity in addressing key objectives related to security, reconciliation, and broader development within the community.
