Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has succeeded Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The transition took place on Sunday during the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority, held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
President Tinubu, who completed his two-year tenure leading the West African regional bloc, formally handed over the leadership to President Bio.
The change in leadership dispelled earlier speculation that Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye would assume the chairmanship following a private meeting prior to the session.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, confirmed the election of Bio on X, stating, “Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio is the new chairman of ECOWAS.
He succeeds President Bola Tinubu, who chaired the regional economic bloc for the past two years.”
Tinubu was first elected Chairman in Guinea-Bissau on July 9, 2023, and was re-elected a year later in Abuja to ensure continuity and consistency in achieving ECOWAS goals on security, reconciliation, and development.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar had earlier hinted at the leadership change during the 94th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, indicating the endorsement of a new Chair.
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In his farewell remarks, President Tinubu expressed profound gratitude for the trust placed in him throughout his tenure.
“As I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and optimism for the future of West Africa,” Tinubu said.
He added, “I remain confident that with the continued cooperation of all its members, ECOWAS will scale greater heights in our collective pursuit of peace, security, stability, and prosperity for our people and our region.”
Reflecting on the challenges faced during his tenure, he called on regional leaders to stay committed to addressing the evolving needs of West African citizens.
President Bio, in his acceptance speech, outlined four critical priorities for his chairmanship.
He pledged to lead a renewed, people-centred, and action-driven ECOWAS amid the region’s unprecedented challenges and opportunities.
His agenda focuses on restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy, revitalizing regional security cooperation, accelerating economic integration, and enhancing institutional credibility.
Bio emphasized, “We must engage transitional governments constructively and support member states in building stronger democratic institutions rooted in the rule of law.
We must overhaul our collective security architecture, from intelligence sharing to rapid response capabilities, to confront new threats with unity and resolve.
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, regional infrastructure, and cross-border value chains must become engines of job creation, trade, and resilience, especially for our women and youth.”
He commended his predecessor for laying a solid foundation in regional dialogue, economic recovery, and peacebuilding.
Bio acknowledged the complexities confronting West Africa, noting the region stands at a crossroads amid terrorism, illicit arms flow, political instability, and transnational crime, particularly in the Sahel and coastal states.
