West Africa has a new regional leader. Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, is now Chairman of ECOWAS. He takes over from Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu led the Economic Community of West African States for two years. His term just ended. The official handover happened in Abuja, Nigeria.
Leaders gathered there for the 67th ECOWAS Summit. This meeting was crucial. The bloc faces big challenges right now.
Three member countries left ECOWAS earlier this year: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Their departure creates uncertainty. Leaders discussed this exit at the summit.
Other key issues were also on the table:
- Growing security threats across the region.
- Concerns about weakening democracy.
- Boosting trade between member nations.
Before stepping down, Tinubu shared strong views on economics. Speaking at a West Africa summit, he urged change.
“We must stop just digging minerals and shipping them out,” Tinubu stated. “Turn our resources into local value. Create jobs. Build factories here.”
He stressed that raw exports limit West Africa’s growth. Tinubu also highlighted a problem: trade between ECOWAS countries is very low. It sits below 10%.
President Bio now leads ECOWAS during this critical time. His task is clear: unite the region and drive progress.
