Senegal President elected new ECOWAS chairman

Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), succeeding Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio.

Faye emerged as chairman during the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, held in Sierra Leone on Sunday.

He takes over from President Bio, who assumed leadership of the regional bloc in June 2025 following the completion of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two-term tenure. Tinubu had handed over to Bio at the 67th Ordinary Session held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Faye’s emergence comes at a critical time for ECOWAS, as the bloc grapples with pressing challenges including regional insecurity, democratic backsliding, and the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

As chairman, the Senegalese leader is expected to prioritise efforts to restore cohesion within the bloc, rebuild trust, and sustain diplomatic engagement with the breakaway states.

At 46, Faye represents a new generation of African leadership, with expectations that his tenure could bring renewed momentum to ECOWAS’ reform agenda—particularly in areas such as governance, accountability, youth inclusion, and institutional credibility.

His appointment also positions Senegal at the forefront of key regional political and diplomatic engagements in West Africa.

Meanwhile, at the same session, Biram Diop was appointed President of the ECOWAS Commission, succeeding Dr Omar Touray.