Senegal’s President Faye Elected New ECOWAS Chairman

West Africa WeeklyJuly 20, 20262 Mins read70

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. He was chosen during the 69th Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Sunday.

Faye succeeds Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who had served as chairman since June 2025 after taking over from Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu. The handover took place at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Freetown.

In a significant development for Senegal, General Birame Diop, the country’s former Minister of the Armed Forces, was also elected President of the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026-2030 term. This marks the first time Senegal has secured the commission’s top executive position since ECOWAS was established in 1975. Diop succeeds Gambian diplomat Omar Touray, who had led the commission since 2022.

Speaking after his election, the 46-year-old Senegalese leader accepted the role with humility and pledged to work towards a stronger, more united West Africa. “It is with humility that I welcome the trust placed in our country, called to the presiding presidency of ECOWAS,” Faye said. He thanked his fellow heads of state for the confidence reposed in Senegal and congratulated Diop on his election as Commission President.

According to the Senegalese Presidency, Faye’s leadership will prioritise collective security, economic sovereignty, and renewed commitment to the founding ideals of the regional organisation. He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and building a reconciled and united West Africa capable of addressing common political, economic and security challenges.

Faye’s emergence comes at a particularly challenging period for ECOWAS. The bloc continues to grapple with rising insecurity, democratic setbacks, and strained relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the three countries that recently withdrew from ECOWAS. As chairman, Faye is expected to intensify efforts to rebuild trust and keep communication channels open with the breakaway states. He had previously been appointed as a mediator with the three countries following their withdrawal. Faye has previously expressed that reconciliation with the Sahel states was possible.

Nigeria, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to regional integration, democratic governance, peace, and security across West Africa. The Vice President called for stronger ECOWAS institutions founded on transparency, accountability, efficiency and sustainable financing, and urged regional leaders to remain steadfast in advancing a shared vision of a peaceful, integrated and prosperous West Africa.