Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The 46-year-old leader assumed the position following a decision by regional leaders, placing him at the helm of the West African bloc’s highest decision-making body.
Faye emerged as the new leader of the regional bloc during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Sierra Leone.
He takes over from Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who assumed the position in June 2025 following the completion of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as chairman.Â
President Faye’s new role will see him provide leadership and direction on key regional issues, including economic integration, peace and security, democratic governance, and cooperation among ECOWAS member states.
His election comes at a critical time for the regional organisation, which has faced challenges including political instability in some member states, security threats, and efforts to strengthen unity among West African countries.
President Faye, who became Senegal’s youngest president after winning the 2024 presidential election, has been widely recognised for his reform agenda and calls for greater sovereignty and cooperation among African nations.
His assumption of the ECOWAS chairmanship places him at the centre of efforts to navigate the future direction of the 15-member regional bloc.
In another major appointment, General Birame Diop, Senegal’s former Minister of Defence and former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, has been named President of the ECOWAS Commission.
General Diop, who also previously served as an adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General, is expected to take over the leadership of the ECOWAS Commission on September 1, 2026, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
