Senegalese 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).

His election was announced during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

He succeeds Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who completed his one-year term and officially handed over the leadership.

Faye succeeds Bio at a particularly challenging period for ECOWAS, with security threats, democratic setbacks, and the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger still dominating the regional agenda.

As the new chairman, he is expected to intensify efforts to rebuild trust and keep communication channels open with the three breakaway countries.

At 46, Faye becomes one of the youngest leaders to chair the regional organisation, a development many observers believe could inject fresh energy into ECOWAS.

The new ECOWAS chairman pledged to prioritize the operationalization of the regional counter-terrorism force, strengthen resource sharing, improve the organization’s financial independence and enhance support for communities affected by crises.

Also at the meeting, Biram Diop was appointed President of the ECOWAS Commission, taking over from Dr Omar Touray, giving Senegal a leading role across both the Authority chairmanship and the Commission presidency.

His appointment comes alongside broader leadership changes within ECOWAS, with Senegal also set to lead the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026- 2030 term through General Birame Diop.

His leadership will also be closely watched as ECOWAS seeks to rebuild unity and chart a new course for regional cooperation amid evolving geopolitical and security dynamics in West Africa.