By Ghazali Ibrahim
Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government 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 ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, where West African leaders met to deliberate on regional security, political stability, economic integration and the future of the bloc.
His election comes at a critical period for the 15-member regional organisation, which continues to grapple with terrorism, unconstitutional changes of government, transnational crime, and the aftermath of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the bloc.
President Faye, who assumed office in Senegal in 2024 after a landslide election victory, is expected to spearhead efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, restore confidence in ECOWAS institutions, promote democratic governance and deepen economic integration among member states.
His emergence also marks a significant diplomatic achievement for Senegal, which now holds both the rotating chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority and the presidency of the ECOWAS Commission, positioning Dakar at the centre of the bloc’s reform and integration agenda.
During his tenure, Faye is expected to prioritise dialogue with member states, address persistent security threats across the Sahel and coastal West Africa, and work towards revitalising regional economic cooperation amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges.
