Passing the Baton: Sierra Leone’s Bio Succeeds Tinubu as ECOWAS Chair
President Bola Tinubu has officially handed over the leadership of ECOWAS to Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio at the 67th Heads of State Summit in Abuja.
Bio now chairs the West African bloc, pledging to focus on security, democracy, and regional integration.
Tinubu’s two-term ECOWAS tenure began in 2023 and ends in 2025.
Bio’s priorities: restoring constitutional order, regional security, economic integration, and institutional credibility.
Speculation earlier pointed to Senegal’s President Faye as the expected chair.
The peaceful handover was seen as a win for diplomatic continuity in West Africa.
As West Africa navigates military coups, insecurity, and economic strain, Bio’s emergence is being closely watched. Will he build on Tinubu’s progress or chart a new course?