A new leadership era has begun at ECOWAS, with Senegalese President, Bassirou Faye, elected Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government at the bloc’s 69th Ordinary Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Faye succeeds Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio and assumes leadership of the regional body at a time West Africa continues to face political transitions, security challenges and the need for deeper economic integration.
The summit also appointed General Birame Diop, Senegal’s former Defence Minister, former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces and former adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General, as the new President of the ECOWAS Commission.
He is expected to assume office in September 2026, succeeding the current Commission President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray. The new leadership is expected to guide ECOWAS’ response to ongoing challenges while advancing regional stability, cooperation and the objectives of the bloc’s Vision 2050 agenda.
The appointments further highlight Senegal’s growing influence within the regional bloc and are expected to support efforts aimed at strengthening democratic governance, improving security cooperation, promoting economic integration and advancing institutional reforms.
The Freetown summit brought together West African leaders to address pressing political, security and development concerns facing the region.
