Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, becoming one of the youngest leaders to head the West African regional bloc.
At 46, Faye’s election marks a generational shift in the leadership of ECOWAS, an organisation that more seasoned political figures have traditionally chaired.
He was elected during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Sunday, July 19, 2026, succeeding Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
Faye’s appointment comes just two years after he made history by winning Senegal’s presidential election in 2024 at the age of 44, becoming the country’s youngest president and one of Africa’s youngest elected heads of state.
Following his election, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, congratulated the Senegalese leader in a Facebook post and pledged Ghana’s support during his tenure.
“Ghana congratulates the newly elected Chairman of ECOWAS, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal. We wish him great success, wisdom and courage in his stewardship. President Faye can always count on Ghana’s principled support and genuine cooperation,” the post read.
Faye takes over the chairmanship at a critical time for ECOWAS as the regional body continues to confront security challenges, democratic concerns and efforts to preserve unity amid political tensions in parts of West Africa.
