Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, has taken over the leadership of ECOWAS following the 67th Summit of Heads of State and Government, held on Sunday, June 22, in Abuja.
Julius Maada Bio succeeds Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to whom he paid tribute for his leadership of the organization, particularly in the areas of regional dialogue, economic recovery, and peacebuilding.
“Our region stands at a crossroads,” declared the new ECOWAS president, Julius Maada Bio, adding, “We must support member states in establishing stronger democratic institutions and reforming our common security architecture.”
In his inaugural speech, Bio outlined the strategic priorities of his term, which include the restoration of constitutional order, the strengthening of democracy, improving regional security, and promoting economic integration.
In this regard, the new ECOWAS Chair emphasized the importance of reforming the organization to make it “more transparent, more effective, and more responsive” to the needs of its people.
At the conclusion of the summit, ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to continuing dialogue with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—countries that have withdrawn from the organization—and to supporting the region’s private sector in order to stimulate sustainable growth, job creation, and deeper integration.
