Macky Sall Elected New ECOWAS Chairman in Sierra Leone

Macky Sall, the President of Senegal, has been elected as the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), succeeding Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone. This election took place during the 69th ordinary session of ECOWAS heads of state and government held in Sierra Leone on a Sunday.

Sall's leadership will commence as President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria's two-term leadership of the bloc is set to end in June 2025. The transition comes at a particularly challenging time for ECOWAS, facing security threats and democratic setbacks due to the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the region.

The new chairman is expected to intensify efforts to rebuild trust and maintain open communication channels with the three breakaway countries. Macky Sall represents a younger generation of African leaders, aiming to inject new momentum into the ECOWAS reform agenda, particularly in governance accountability and youth inclusion.

Biram Diop has been appointed as the President of the ECOWAS Commission, succeeding Dr. Omar Touray.