By Tracy Moses
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has elected Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, while naming General Birame Diop as the next President of the ECOWAS Commission.
The decisions were taken at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, where President Faye succeeded Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who formally handed over the chairmanship at the close of the summit.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, the summit brought together Heads of State and Government to review key political, security and economic issues facing the sub-region and to strengthen cooperation among member states.
A major outcome of the meeting was a high-level dialogue on the future of regional integration in West Africa, with leaders reaffirming their commitment to closer political, economic and institutional cooperation in response to emerging regional and global challenges.
The Authority also adopted the Declaration of Commitment to the Compact for the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa, pledging to deepen collaboration and promote shared prosperity across the region.
In a significant boost to regional infrastructure, the leaders endorsed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) Project, which is expected to improve energy security, expand cross-border infrastructure and stimulate economic growth among participating countries.
The summit further adopted the Presidential Declaration on Advancing Gender Parity in Political Representation in ECOWAS Member States as one of the flagship initiatives marking the Community’s 50th anniversary. The declaration seeks to increase women’s participation in political leadership and decision-making across the region.
The Authority also approved the appointment of General Birame Diop of Senegal as President of the ECOWAS Commission. He will assume office on September 1, 2026, following the expiration of the four-year tenure of the incumbent Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia.
During the session, the leaders considered the 2026 Interim Report on the State of the Community, the Report of the 56th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, and the Report of the 96th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, alongside other policy, governance and security matters affecting the region.
Ahead of the summit, the Heads of State commissioned the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, which hosted the high-level meeting.
The leadership changes come at a critical time for ECOWAS as the regional bloc grapples with security threats, democratic transitions and efforts to deepen economic integration following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the organisation earlier this year.
With President Faye assuming the rotating chairmanship and General Diop set to take over the Commission in September, ECOWAS is expected to intensify efforts to strengthen regional institutions, promote peace and security, and advance economic integration across West Africa.