President Bio outlines bold vision as new ECOWAS Chairperson

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson

Following his election today in Nigeria as Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has laid out four key priorities for his leadership of the West African bloc.

At the top of his agenda is restoring constitutional order and strengthening democracy across the region. This comes amid growing calls from citizens in ECOWAS member states for urgent action to bring back three countries namely: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger which recently withdrew from the bloc following military coups.

President Bio’s predecessor, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains hopeful that ongoing diplomatic efforts will eventually lead to their return. In his final remarks as ECOWAS Chair, Tinubu expressed confidence that "before too long, their former member states may return to the ECOWAS family." President Bio's second major focus is on reviving regional and security cooperation. He acknowledged the importance of joint action to tackle rising terrorism and cross-border threats, which aligns with what his precedessor said: "are too large and complex for any single country to manage alone." To this end, President Bio echoed his predecessor’s call for stronger political will, closer coordination, and a united front in addressing the region’s growing security challenges. The third and fourth priorities are closely tied to economic growth and institutional development. President Bio aims to boost economic integration by removing trade barriers and advancing key infrastructure projects like the West African Gas Pipeline, the West African Power Pool, and the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway. He acknowledged that trade within the region remains low, despite its enormous potential. “We must create the right conditions for innovation and investment to thrive,” he said. Lastly, he is committed to building institutional credibility within ECOWAS to support deeper regional cooperation and empower the private sector. These goals, he noted, are essential to unlocking sustainable development and shared prosperity across West Africa. President Bio, now the 38th Chairperson of ECOWAS, has received widespread congratulations from across the continent and beyond. Many, including former Liberian President George Weah, see his elevation as a moment of pride for Sierra Leone and a sign of his growing influence on the African stage.

However, delivering on his outlined four priorities in the year ahead of his tenure, would mark a major achievement, not just for President Bio and his country, but for the entire West African region and the African continent as a whole.