Sierra Leone’s President elected new ECOWAS chairman

President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone has been elected as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Bio succeeds President Bola Tinubu, who held the position for the past two years.

The announcement was made during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

In his inaugural address, Bio outlined four strategic priorities for his tenure – restoring constitutional order, strengthening democracy, revitalising regional security, advancing economic integration, and reinforcing institutional credibility across the bloc.

He said: “As chairman, I will prioritise four key areas: first, restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy.

“We must engage transitional governments constructively and support member states in building stronger democratic institutions rooted in the rule of law.

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“Second, revitalising regional security cooperation, we must overhaul our collective security architecture, from intelligence sharing to rapid response, to confront new threats with unity and resolve.

“Third, unlocking economic integration. The ECOWAS liberalisation scheme, regional infrastructure, and cross-border value chains must become engines of jobs, trade, and resilience. Fourth, building institutional credibility.

“ECOWAS must reform itself to become more transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of its people.”

Earlier, Tinubu officially handed over the mantle of leadership during the high-level meeting, which brought together heads of state and key regional stakeholders.

Tinubu was first elected as ECOWAS chairman on July 9, 2023, during a summit in Guinea-Bissau.

He was re-elected in Abuja in 2024, following a unanimous decision by member states to uphold continuity and stability in the region’s leadership.

The Star