Sierra Leone's President, Julius Maada Bio, has assumed the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following his election as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
His election was confirmed on Sunday at the 67th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, Nigeria, where he officially succeeded outgoing chair, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Bio's appointment comes as the West African bloc faces its most significant challenge in years - the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, now under military rule, and the formation of their breakaway Alliance of Sahel States.
His leadership is expected to be tested by questions over how to manage the bloc's shrinking cohesion and restore confidence in regional cooperation.
