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.
The announcement was made at the 67th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS held on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria.
President Bio, a former military leader who briefly ruled Sierra Leone in 1996, returned to power as a civilian after winning the 2018 presidential election. He secured a second term in 2023.
His election comes at a critical time for the West African bloc, which is grappling with political instability and growing security concerns. Three member states — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — are currently under military rule and have withdrawn from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States.
It remains to be seen whether President Bio, expected to serve a one-year term as Chair, will prioritise re-engagement with the breakaway nations during his tenure.
President John Dramani Mahama, who attended the summit in Abuja, has since returned to Accra.
