In a significant leadership transition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has officially handed over the chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.
The handover took place during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja on Saturday.
Tinubu, who served as ECOWAS chairman for one year, stepped down amid regional challenges including military coups and political instability in member countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso — nations that have since exited the regional bloc.
His tenure was marked by tough diplomatic negotiations aimed at restoring democratic governance in these nations.
As the new chairman, President Maada Bio assumes leadership at a critical time when ECOWAS faces pressure to reform, strengthen regional integration, and enhance security cooperation.
He is expected to drive fresh initiatives focused on peacebuilding, economic development, and political stability across West Africa.
The summit underscored ECOWAS’s commitment to unity and progress, even as the bloc navigates rising security threats and governance challenges within its member states.
