President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has congratulated his Sierra Leone’s counterpart, Julius Maada Bio on his ascension to the Chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Head of States and Government.
President Bio was announced as the next Chair at the close of the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at State House in Abuja, Nigeria over the weekend.
Pres. Boakai, according to a release, expressed his delight while conveying heartfelt congratulations to his counterpart in next door neighboring Sierra Leone.
Pres. Bio takes over the gavel of authority of ECOWAS from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who served two successive terms from July 2023.
As Chairperson, Bio now presides over the Authority, the highest decision-making body of ECOWAS, which comprises of heads of state and government of the member states in the West African sub-region.
Three member states–Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, recently withdrew their membership from the Community’s original 15 member states as they are now rule by military junta leaders.
The Chair of the Authority’s mandate includes steering collective policy making on regional integration, peace and security, fostering economic policies, political governance, institutional reform, as well as advancing the common African position on the United Nations Security Council Reform.
ECOWAS was established in May of 1975 with a multi-prong vision of fostering economic integration, facilitating free movement of its citizens, promoting peace and stability as well as advancing democratic governance.