Abuja: President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has been elected as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. He succeeds Nigerian 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 on Sunday in Abuja.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, 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. Bio emphasized the importance of engaging transitional governments and supporting member states in building democratic institutions rooted in the rule of law.

Bio further elaborated on his priorities, highlighting the need to revitalize regional security cooperation. He called for an overhaul of the collective security architecture, emphasizing the significance of intelligence sharing and rapid response to confront new threats with unity and resolve. Additionally, Bio stressed the importance of unlocking economic integration by leveraging the ECOWAS liberalisation scheme, regional infrastructure, and cross-border value chains to drive job creation, trade, and resilience.

Earlier, President Tinubu officially handed over the leadership during the high-level meeting, which brought together heads of state and key regional stakeholders. Tinubu expressed optimism for the future of West Africa and confidence in Bio's leadership. He highlighted the importance of continued cooperation among ECOWAS members in achieving peace, security, stability, and prosperity for the region.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Tinubu was first elected as ECOWAS Chairman on July 9, 2023, during a summit in Guinea-Bissau. He was re-elected in 2024 in Abuja, following a unanimous decision by member states to uphold continuity and stability in the region's leadership.