President Diomaye Faye of Senegal has been elected chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Faye emerged as the new chairman during the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on Sunday.
He succeeded Julius Bio, president of Sierra Leone, who previously chaired the regional bloc.
The summit also elected Birame Diop, former minister of the armed forces of Senegal, as president of the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026–2030 term.
The election marked the first time Senegal has produced the president of the ECOWAS Commission since the regional organisation was established in 1975.
Diop succeeded Omar Touray, Gambian diplomat, who had served as president of the commission since 2022.
As chairman of ECOWAS, Faye will oversee the affairs of the regional bloc for the next one year.
The Senegalese presidency said in a statement that Faye’s tenure would focus on collective security, economic sovereignty and adherence to the vision of the organisation’s founding fathers.
“It is with humility that I welcome the trust placed in our country, called to the presiding presidency of ECOWAS,” Faye said.
“I thank my peers, Heads of State and Government, for this mark of trust and for the spirit of fraternity that presided over our work.
“I congratulate General of the Army Birame Diop, elected to the presidency of the Commission, and assure him of my full support.”
The Senegalese president also commended ECOWAS and pledged to work towards a “reconciled and united” West Africa.
