Sierra Leone’s President Julius Bio has been elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Bio succeeds President Bola Tinubu, who chaired the regional economic bloc for the past two years.
The Sierra Leonean president succeeded Tinubu on Sunday during the 67th ordinary session of the authority held in Abuja.
Prior to the election, there were speculations that Senegalese President Bassirou Faye would take over the seat.
Bio promised to prioritise restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy in the fragmented region.
He also named revitalising regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration, and building institutional credibility as his key priorities.
Tinubu was first elected to the position in Guinea-Bissau on July 9, 2023, and he was re-elected a year later in Abuja.
His chairmanship was challenged with a burden of restoring democracy in the region after Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso pulled out of the bloc following their coups.
Bio praised Tinubu for his “outstanding leadership” and “unwavering commitment to regional dialogue, economic recovery and peace building”.
In his last speech as chairman, Tinubu urged the three French-speaking West African countries to return to the bloc.
