Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has been elected Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The announcement came during this week’s 67th Ordinary Session, held in Abuja, Nigeria, where he formally succeeded Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu .
President Bio’s elevation comes at a critical moment for the regional bloc. ECOWAS is grappling with deepening political instability, insurgent threats, and a regional splintering, highlighted by the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—now leading the Alliance of Sahel States . Bio directly acknowledges these challenges, emphasising his four-pronged agenda: safeguard democracy, strengthen security cooperation, deepen regional integration, and restore institutional credibility .
A former Brigadier-General turned democratically elected leader, Bio holds a unique blend of military discipline and civilian sensitivity. He assumes this role just weeks after surviving a failed coup in Sierra Leone and amid growing domestic concerns over synthetic drug cartels and economic decline .
In his acceptance speech, Bio said he understands the gravity of the mandate—leading a people-centred and action-focused ECOWAS capable of confronting regional conflict and democratic fractures .
Outgoing chair Tinubu, reflecting on his two-year tenure, commended the region’s progress in economic recovery and peacebuilding. He officially passed the ECOWAS emblem to Bio, marking a ceremonial yet symbolic transition of power .
Bio’s year-long term will test his ability to unite a politically fractured bloc facing social unrest, jihadist spillover from the Sahel, and drug proliferation—all while preparing for economic integration via initiatives such as the ECO regional currency and trade liberalisation .
