Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), taking over the leadership of the regional bloc for the next one year.
Faye was elected on Sunday during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone. He succeeds Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who previously chaired the organisation.
In another significant achievement for Senegal, General Birame Diop, the country’s former Minister of the Armed Forces, was elected President of the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026–2030 term. It marks the first time Senegal will head the commission since ECOWAS was established in 1975.
Diop succeeds Gambian diplomat Omar Touray, who has served as President of the ECOWAS Commission since 2022.
As the new ECOWAS chairman, the 46-year-old Faye will oversee the affairs of the regional body for the next year. According to a statement from the Senegalese presidency, his administration will prioritise collective security, economic sovereignty, and upholding the vision of the founding fathers of ECOWAS.
Speaking after his election, President Faye expressed gratitude to his fellow West African leaders for the confidence reposed in Senegal.
“It is with humility that I welcome the trust placed in our country, called to the presiding presidency of ECOWAS. 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,” he said.
Faye also congratulated General Birame Diop on his election as President of the ECOWAS Commission and pledged his full support.
The Senegalese leader reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and working towards a more united and peaceful West Africa, describing his vision as one of a “reconciled and united” sub-region.
