Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu officially transferred the ECOWAS chairmanship to Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio during the 67th Ordinary Session in Abuja on Sunday
Tinubu, who held the position since July 2023, highlighted his tenure’s notable achievements: stabilising democracy in troubled states, securing EU and AU backing, and building the Sierra Leone logistics hub .
He described the experience as a “profound honour and privilege”
Taking the chair, President Bio called for continued focus on “democracy, security cooperation, economic integration, and institutional credibility.”
He emphasized urgent action against terrorism and transnational crime across the region
Bio faces formidable tasks, including Niger’s exit from the bloc and internal instability in Mali and Burkina Faso following coup-led secessions. He stressed that ECOWAS must adapt to retain relevance amid regional fragmentation
The Summit concluded with commitments to strengthen regional unity through democratic dialogue, shared economic planning, and security intelligence joint efforts.
