Senegal’s President Diomaye Faye Elected New ECOWAS Chairman

Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has been elected as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Faye was chosen during the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Sierra Leone.

He succeeds Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who took over the leadership of the regional bloc after President Bola Tinubu completed his two-term tenure as ECOWAS chairman in June 2025.

President Tinubu officially handed over the leadership of the organisation to Bio during the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority, held in Abuja, Nigeria.

Faye assumes office at a critical time for the West African regional body as it continues to grapple with growing security challenges, democratic concerns, and the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the bloc.

As ECOWAS chairman, the Senegalese leader is expected to prioritise efforts to restore confidence in the organisation while maintaining dialogue with the three countries that exited the regional body.

At 46 years old, Faye is among a new generation of African leaders and is widely expected to bring fresh energy to ECOWAS’ reform agenda.

His leadership is expected to focus on strengthening governance, promoting accountability, increasing youth participation, and enhancing the credibility of regional institutions.

The new role also places Senegal at the forefront of key political, economic, and diplomatic decisions affecting West Africa, as ECOWAS continues efforts to address regional stability and foster stronger cooperation among member states.