Faye becomes ECOWAS Chair, vows regional unity
Key Takeaways
- Bassirou Diomaye Faye became ECOWAS chairman.
- Senegal also secured the ECOWAS Commission presidency.
- The bloc faces security threats and divisions with Sahel
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye assumed the ECOWAS chairmanship as the regional bloc confronted security threats, political instability and divisions with the Alliance of Sahel States.
Senegal has assumed a stronger leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye taking over as chairman of the regional bloc while another Senegalese official prepares to lead its executive Commission.
Faye received the ceremonial gavel during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority in Sierra Leone before addressing heads of state, ministers and Commission officials.
Reflecting on the organisation's legacy, Faye pledged to build on its achievements while responding to new regional challenges.
"I keep in mind the long-standing spirit of 50 years of effort, solidarity and patient construction," Faye told the assembly.
"I commit myself with you to make this heritage live, by adapting it to the challenges of our time, namely collective security, institutional stability, political and economic sovereignty and a more sustainable and credible voice of West Africa," he continued.
Faye succeeds Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio at a time when ECOWAS is dealing with terrorism, political instability and strained relations with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The three military-led countries withdrew from ECOWAS and established the Alliance of Sahel States, creating one of the most significant challenges in the bloc's history.
Senegal's influence within the organisation has also grown through the appointment of General Birame Diop as president of the ECOWAS Commission.
Diop, a former armed forces minister and military adviser to the United Nations secretary-general, is scheduled to take office at the Commission's headquarters in Abuja on September 1, succeeding Gambian diplomat Omar Alieu Touray.
The appointments place Senegal at the head of both ECOWAS's political leadership and its executive Commission as the bloc seeks to strengthen regional cooperation and determine its future relationship with the Alliance of Sahel States.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
