Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has taken over as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
He succeeds Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), who handed over on Sunday, June 22, at the 67th ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
PBAT was first elected as ECOWAS chair in 2023 and re-elected a year later, following the leaders’ decision to ensure continuity and consistency in meeting targets on security, reconciliation, and development.
Earlier, there were speculations that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal was elected during a private meeting held prior to the commencement of the 67th session of the West African bloc.
In his inaugural speech, President Bio promised to prioritise four key areas of restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy, revitalising regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration, and building institutional credibility.
