Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has emerged as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the bloc’s 69th Ordinary Session held in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Faye succeeds Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, who completed his tenure as chairman of the 15-member regional organisation.
His election comes at a crucial period for ECOWAS as the regional bloc grapples with escalating terrorism, political instability, democratic challenges and efforts to restore relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which withdrew from the organisation.
In his acceptance speech, the Senegalese president pledged to strengthen regional cooperation, deepen economic integration and promote peace, security and democratic governance across West Africa.
Faye also reaffirmed his commitment to advancing ECOWAS’ core objectives, including regional stability, economic growth and stronger collaboration among member states.
His emergence also places Senegal at the centre of regional diplomacy at a time when West Africa faces growing security concerns, constitutional crises and renewed calls for greater economic cooperation.
The leadership transition was one of the major outcomes of the 69th ECOWAS Summit, which brought together Heads of State and Government in Freetown to deliberate on regional security, governance, trade, infrastructure, economic integration and the future of cooperation in West Africa.