ABUJA – President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has been elected as the new Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, following the conclusion of the 67th Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria. The summit was attended by several West African leaders, including Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., who joined his counterparts to deliberate on pressing regional issues and oversee the transition of leadership within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The session began with formal remarks by outgoing Chairperson and host, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, presented a special statement outlining key developments within the Community. Additional goodwill messages were delivered by Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, representing the African Union Commission.
Following the ceremonial opening, heads of state convened behind closed doors to review an extensive agenda covering political, economic, and security concerns in the region. Documents reviewed included the 2025 Interim Report on the State of the Community, reports from the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Mediation and Security Council, and updates on consultations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger following their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.
The summit also addressed the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and received updates from the ECOWAS Convergence Council. In a key development, the leaders elected President Julius Maada Bio to assume the role of Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, succeeding President Tinubu.
During a press conference at the end of the session, President Tinubu formally announced President Bio’s election, signaling a new chapter in the regional bloc’s leadership.
President Boakai’s participation highlights Liberia’s ongoing commitment to regional diplomacy, democratic governance, and economic cooperation. The next Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority is expected to be held at a date and venue to be announced.
