Faye Emerges ECOWAS Chairman as Senegal Secures Dual Leadership Victory

By Divine Macaulay · July 19, 2026

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a significant diplomatic milestone for Dakar as the regional bloc grapples with security, political and economic challenges across West Africa.

Faye was elected on Sunday during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Lungi, Sierra Leone. He succeeds Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio and will serve as chairman of the regional bloc for a one-year term.

In a further boost to Senegal's regional influence, Birame Diop, the country's former minister of the armed forces, was elected president of the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026–2030 term. The appointment marks the first time Senegal has secured the commission's top executive office since ECOWAS was established in 1975.

Diop takes over from Gambian diplomat Omar Alieu Touray, who has led the commission since 2022.

At 46, Faye assumes the chairmanship at a pivotal moment for the 50-year-old regional organisation, which is confronting persistent security threats, democratic backsliding and the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the bloc.

In a statement issued by the Senegalese presidency, Faye said his tenure would prioritise collective security, economic sovereignty and renewed commitment to the vision of ECOWAS' founding fathers.

"It is with humility that I welcome the trust placed in our country, called to the presiding presidency of ECOWAS," Faye said.

"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.

"I congratulate General Birame Diop on his election as president of the Commission and assure him of my full support."

Faye also reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a more united and stable West Africa, pledging to work with member states to build "a reconciled and united" region.

The dual appointments underscore Senegal's growing diplomatic profile within the sub-region and place the country at the centre of efforts to steer ECOWAS through one of the most challenging periods in its history.