Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), succeeding Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The announcement was made during the 67th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS, which took place on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria.
President Bio, who previously served as a military leader and briefly governed Sierra Leone in 1996, returned to power as a civilian after winning the presidential election in 2018. He achieved a second term in 2023.
His election occurred at a pivotal moment for the West African bloc, which is facing political instability and increasing security challenges. Three member states — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — are currently under military governance and have opted out of ECOWAS to establish the Alliance of Sahel States.
It remains uncertain whether President Bio, who is expected to serve a one-year term as Chair, will focus on re-engagement with the breakaway nations during his leadership.
Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who was present at the summit in Abuja, has since returned to Accra.
