The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has elected Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio as its Chairman.
The election of Pres. Bio, according to a release, was held at the West African heads of State in the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority in Abuja, Nigeria.
The heads of state had gathered to deliberate on an assortment of critical matters of the Community and usher in a new chair of the Community.
Meanwhile, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, joined other West African heads of State in the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority for the deliberation.
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered the official opening statement. Tinubu chaired the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
His statement followed a special statement by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray.
Leonardo Santos Simao, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, delivered the messages of goodwill.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner on Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the AU Commission, delivered Mr. Youssouf’s message.
Following the official opening ceremony, the Heads of State and Government went into their customary closed-door session to deliberate on a slew of sub-regional issues.
Among issues on the agenda for discussion and disposition were the items, including, the 2025 interim report on the State of the Dr. Touray; report on the 54th Ordinary Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level; report on the 94th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers; update on Consultations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in preparation for negotiations following their withdrawal from ECOWAS.
Other items were the report of the 11th Session of the ECOWAS Convergence Council; report of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Task Force on the implementation of intra-Community Trade Regulations by Member States; election of new chair of Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS; decision on Date and venue of 68th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
At the press conference that followed the closed door session, Outgoing ECOWAS Chairperson Tinubu, among other decisions, announced Sierr Leone President, Julius Maada Bio as the one elected to succeed him as the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.