Senegal's Bassir Diomay Fay Elected New ECOWAS Chairman

Bassir Diomay Fay, the President of Senegal, has been elected as the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the 69th ordinary session held in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He succeeds Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone, who assumed the chairmanship in June 2025.

Fay, at 46 years old, is one of the youngest leaders to chair the organization. His election comes during a challenging period for the region, which is grappling with insecurity, democratic challenges, and the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS due to disagreements over sanctions.

Fay is expected to prioritize diplomatic engagement to rebuild confidence and reopen communication channels among member states. Additionally, Biram Diop has been appointed as the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, succeeding Dr.

Omar Alieu Tourai. The summit emphasized the need for cooperation in security, economic growth, and democratic governance amidst ongoing political and security difficulties in the region.