Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has been named the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at a time when the regional bloc is grappling with one of the most turbulent periods in its history.
His appointment was announced on Sunday during a high-level ECOWAS meeting, with the organization under pressure from a wave of security crises, member state withdrawals, and internal economic strain.
In his first remarks as chair, President Bio pledged to focus his leadership on restoring stability, safeguarding democratic principles, and strengthening integration among member states.
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: Sierra Leone debates abortion decriminalization amid rising risks to women and girls
“We are still confronting insecurity in the Sahel and coastal states, terrorism, political instability, illicit arms flow and transnational organized crimes continue to test the resilience of our nations and the effectiveness of our institutions,” he said as reported by AP.
Founded in 1975 to foster economic and political cooperation, ECOWAS now faces serious fragmentation. The recent exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, each of which has experienced military coups in recent years, has weakened the bloc’s influence. The three juntas have instead formed the Alliance of Sahel States, abandoning ties with traditional Western partners and building new security alliances with Russia.
Watch a recent episode of The BreakDown podcast below and subscribe to our channel PanaGenius TV for latest episodes.
Bio assumes the ECOWAS chairmanship while navigating domestic issues at home, including a sluggish economy and a growing synthetic drug crisis. His presidency, currently in its second term, has not been without controversy, particularly following a disputed election two years ago.
He was also in office when ECOWAS imposed heavy sanctions on Niger after its 2023 coup. The military-led government in Niamey cited those sanctions as a key reason for exiting the bloc. Sierra Leone was among the nations that backed potential military intervention at the time.
READ ALSO: Fears mount over social media influencer’s health after live TV arrest in Sierra Leone
Now leading ECOWAS during its most significant identity crisis in decades, Bio’s leadership will be tested by the urgent need to reassert regional unity, stem the spread of extremist violence, and repair the bloc’s waning institutional credibility.
