Economic Community of West African States, on Sunday, elected President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the community.
Bio succeeds Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who was elected in Guinea-Bissau in 2023 and re-elected for a second term on July 7, 2024, in Abuja.
ECOWAS’ 67th Ordinary Session ended with the symbolic handover of the emblem to the incoming chairman.
President Tinubu said it’s a profound honour and privilege for him to have led the esteemed body, adding that he remained deeply humbled by the trust and support extended to him throughout his two-term tenure.
Tinubu said, “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.
“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.”
Tinubu while reflecting on his tenure, noted the complex political and security challenges the region has faced in recent years, urging leaders to remain committed to the evolving needs of West African citizens.
“Let us deepen cooperation, uphold diplomatic principles, and foster inclusive growth that leaves no one behind—especially our youth, women, and vulnerable populations, who remain central to the future of our region,” he said.
President Tinubu stressed the need to preserve democratic values and ensure that political stability is not separated from economic development.
President Tinubu declared, “Our organisation must continue to strike a fine balance between its core regional mandate of economic integration and the complex political, security, and governance challenges, including the preservation of democratic values in our region.
“Economic integration cannot be superimposed on an untenable political environment. That is why we must remain steadfast in our resolve to rise to these emerging challenges.”
He commended the ECOWAS Commission, community institutions, and technical staff for their dedication and professionalism in supporting the Authority’s work and organising a successful summit.
Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to the region’s shared mission and urged continued unity among member states.
“As you return to your respective countries, let us remain resolute in our shared mission to deepen our integration, protect our people, and build a prosperous, secure, and united West Africa,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, President Bio outlined four key priorities of the regional body under his watch.
He pledged to lead a renewed, people-centred, and action-oriented ECOWAS in the face of unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the West African region.
President Bio said his leadership would focus on restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy, revitalising regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration, and building institutional credibility.
“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.
“ECOWAS must reform itself to become more transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of its people. This is how we will rebuild trust in regional cooperation, “he said.
President Bio commended his predecessor for laying a solid foundation of regional dialogue, economic recovery, and peacebuilding.’
“I am humbled to build upon the strong foundation you have established,” he said, thanking President Tinubu for his “experience and leadership. ”
Acknowledging the complexities of the current moment, the Sierra Leonean leader noted that West Africa stands at a crossroads, grappling with terrorism, illicit arms flow, political instability, and transnational crime, particularly in the Sahel and coastal states.
“The democratic space is under strain in parts of our region. In some countries, the constitutional order has been disrupted. Yet, across West Africa, citizens—especially our youth—are demanding not just elections, but also accountability, transparency, and a fair stake in national life,” the Sierra Leonean said.
In his acceptance speech at the ongoing 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Sierra Leone leader said he was “humbled and grateful to accept the honour of chairing ECOWAS authority”.
He told Tinubu, “Your tenure was marked by unwavering commitment to regional dialogue, economic recovery and peace building. I’m humbled to build upon the strong foundation you have established. Thank you for your experience, leadership.”
Speaking further he said, “Our region is at a crossroads, the West Africa we lead today is facing serious challenges, some long standing, others new and evolving. We are still confronting insecurity in the Sahel and coastal states, terrorism, political instability, illicit arms flow and transnational organized crimes continue to test the resilience of our nations and the effectiveness of our institutions.
“The democratic space is under strain, in parts of our region, the constitutional order has been disrupted. Yet across West Africa, citizens, especially our youth, are demanding not just elections, but accountability, transparency and a fair stake in national life. Economically, our region is recovering from external shocks, including global inflation, food insecurity, energy constraint and debt vulnerabilities.”
