Senegal’s President Faye, 46, Elected ECOWAS Chairman
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was unanimously elected ECOWAS Chairman at the 69th summit in Freetown, succeeding Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio.
Faye emerged as the new leader of the regional bloc during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Sierra Leone.
Bio assumed the position in June 2025 following the completion of President Bola Tinubu’s two terms.
Faye’s emergence comes at a critical time for the West African regional body, which continues to grapple with rising insecurity, democratic challenges and strained relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the three countries that recently withdrew from ECOWAS.
As Chairman, the Senegalese leader is expected to prioritise efforts aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and maintaining diplomatic engagement with the breakaway states in a bid to preserve stability across West Africa.
