Faith Nyasuguta
President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has officially assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), taking over from Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The leadership transition was formalized during the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria.
President Bio now leads the regional bloc at a time of significant political and security challenges. In his inaugural speech, he outlined four key priorities: restoring constitutional order and democracy, revitalizing regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration and building institutional credibility.
Bio replaces President Tinubu, whose two-term tenure as ECOWAS chairman began in July 2023 and was renewed in 2024. Tinubu’s time in office was defined by serious regional turbulence. His leadership coincided with an era marked by widespread coups, mounting civil unrest, and the eventual withdrawal of three major member states – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – from the bloc. These countries, citing dissatisfaction with ECOWAS decisions and external influence, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), delivering a major blow to regional unity.
At the close of the summit, President Tinubu formally handed over the mantle of leadership, thanking regional leaders for their trust. “As we look forward to the future of West Africa, I remain positive that with the continued cooperation of all its members, ECOWAS will scale over greater heights in our collective pursuit of peace, security, stability and prosperity for our people and for our region,” he said.
During his tenure, Tinubu was particularly vocal about defending democracy and resisting military takeovers. Under his leadership, ECOWAS issued strong sanctions and launched mediation efforts aimed at restoring civilian rule in member states that experienced unconstitutional changes of government. However, the bloc struggled to enforce its authority, and Tinubu’s hardline approach often met resistance.
The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in January 2025 exposed deep divisions and highlighted ECOWAS’s limitations in responding to crises. Despite Tinubu’s efforts to maintain cohesion, the alliance fractured and ECOWAS lost strategic ground in the region.
President Bio inherits a bloc that is divided and faces growing calls for reform. Expectations are high for him to repair diplomatic rifts, restore unity, and revive stalled economic initiatives, including the long-anticipated introduction of a common regional currency.
As the new ECOWAS chair, Bio’s leadership will be crucial in navigating the bloc through this turbulent chapter and reshaping its future direction in a rapidly evolving West African region.
RELATED:
