Breaking: Tinubu hands over as ECOWAS chair

President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has emerged as the new Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government as Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s two-term leadership of the bloc comes to an end.

President Tinubu handed over the mantle of leadership to President Bio at the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority held in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

This was contrary to earlier speculations that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal was elected during a private meeting held prior to the commencement of the session.

President Bio, in his inaugural speech, promised to prioritise four key areas, namely: restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy, revitalising regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration and building institutional credibility.

President Tinubu was first elected to the position in Guinea-Bissau on July 9, 2023 and he was re-elected a year later in Abuja, following the decision of the leaders to ensure continuity and consistency in meeting targets on security, reconciliation, and development.