Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Faye was elected during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he officially succeeded Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio as the regional bloc’s chairman.

The leadership transition comes at a critical time for ECOWAS as the organization faces growing security threats, political instability, democratic challenges, and the continued withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the bloc.

As the new chairman, President Faye is expected to prioritize strengthening regional cooperation, promoting peace and security, advancing economic integration, and restoring confidence in ECOWAS institutions. Observers also expect him to intensify diplomatic efforts to improve relations with the Sahel states and foster greater unity across West Africa.

At 46, Faye becomes one of the youngest leaders to chair ECOWAS, with many viewing his election as an opportunity to inject fresh momentum into the regional body’s reform agenda and address the pressing challenges facing West Africa.