ABUJA, Nigeria — Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has been elected as the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), succeeding Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, whose two-year tenure was defined by political instability and regional mediation efforts.
The announcement was made on Sunday, June 22, 2025, during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Bio’s emergence came amid speculation that Senegal’s newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was being considered for the role.
However, the regional bloc chose the Sierra Leonean leader, who now assumes responsibility for navigating ECOWAS through one of its most turbulent periods in recent history.
In his acceptance speech, President Bio pledged to focus on restoring constitutional order in member states affected by military takeovers, strengthening democratic institutions, and rebuilding public confidence in regional governance.
“My priorities will include revitalising regional security cooperation, unlocking the promise of economic integration, and building institutional credibility within ECOWAS,” he stated.
The new chairmanship comes as the bloc continues to grapple with the withdrawal of three of its founding member states — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — following military coups in each of those countries.
The juntas in all three French-speaking nations have openly rejected ECOWAS sanctions and declined calls for a return to democratic rule.
President Tinubu, who was first elected ECOWAS chairman on 9 July 2023 in Guinea-Bissau and re-elected the following year in Abuja, faced the immediate challenge of stabilising the bloc amid a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government.
In his final address as ECOWAS chairman, Tinubu reiterated his call for Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to reconsider their decision to exit the organisation.
“We must continue to push for unity and democratic norms. I urge our brothers in the Sahel to return to the ECOWAS fold for the sake of our collective stability,” Tinubu said.
Bio commended his predecessor’s efforts, describing Tinubu’s leadership as “outstanding” and his commitment to “regional dialogue, economic recovery, and peace building” as unwavering.
