Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has been appointed as the new leader of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as the bloc grapples with increasing instability, a wave of military coups, and faltering regional commerce.
President Bio assumed the rotating chairmanship from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu during a summit held on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The meeting took place against a backdrop of escalating violence across West Africa, as insurgent groups exploit divisions between member states to expand their reach in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.
In recent weeks, militants have ramped up attacks across the Sahel, launching deadly raids in Mali, pushing into urban centres in Burkina Faso, and delivering heavy casualties to military forces in Niger.
Nigeria, which hosted the summit, has also suffered a recent surge in violence, with assaults targeting civilians and army installations alike.
During his closing remarks, outgoing chairman Tinubu acknowledged the array of persistent challenges confronting the regional body.
“We are facing serious and ongoing threats that hinder our collective ambitions,” he said, citing “security threats, violent extremism, and cross-border crises” as key obstacles to stability and progress.
As ECOWAS transitions under President Bio’s leadership, the organisation faces an uphill battle to confront worsening insecurity and maintain unity among its member states.
