Julius Maada Bio Named ECOWAS Chair as West Africa Faces Security and Political Crisis

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has been appointed as the new Chairman of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), taking over leadership of the regional bloc at a time of unprecedented security threats, political instability, and regional fragmentation.

Bio, who is serving his second term as president of Sierra Leone, steps into the role as ECOWAS struggles to maintain its influence amid the departure of member states, a rise in military coups, and the ongoing threat of terrorism in the Sahel region.

In a statement following Sunday’s announcement, Bio laid out his vision for his tenure, promising to focus on strengthening democratic governance, boosting economic integration, and rebuilding institutional trust across the 15-nation bloc.

“We are still confronting insecurity in the Sahel and coastal states, terrorism, political instability, illicit arms flow, and transnational organised crimes continue to test the resilience of our nations and the effectiveness of our institutions,” he said.

The challenges awaiting Bio are steep. Over the last few years, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—all led by military juntas—withdrew from ECOWAS following sanctions imposed in response to coups. The three countries have since formed their own alliance, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, and have cut military ties with Western allies, including France and the U.S., in favour of new security partnerships with Russia.

Bio’s appointment comes with political baggage of its own. His 2023 re-election was marred by controversy, and at home, he is currently dealing with a worsening synthetic drug epidemic and a sluggish economy, both of which have sparked unrest and criticism within Sierra Leone.

Notably, Bio was president when ECOWAS imposed tough sanctions on Niger following its military coup. Sierra Leone also supported the proposed regional military intervention in 2023—a stance that deepened tensions with the junta regimes.

As ECOWAS chair, Bio now leads a bloc at a crossroads. Once a symbol of West African cooperation and unity, the organisation has seen its influence eroded by coups, extremist violence, and internal disunity. With jihadist groups expanding control in parts of the Sahel and democratic governance under threat, the pressure is now on Bio to restore ECOWAS’s credibility, keep remaining member states engaged, and offer a new path toward regional peace and economic growth.

Whether he can unify a divided region and reestablish ECOWAS as a force for stability in West Africa remains to be seen—but the stakes for the region could not be higher.


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