The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unanimously endorsed President John Dramani Mahama as its candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union (AU).
The approval follows an earlier unanimous decision by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which selected President Mahama as the sole nominee from the West African sub-region for the rotating AU chairmanship, expected to come to the region in 2027.
The AU Chairpersonship is a rotational leadership role held by a sitting Head of State or Government and rotates annually among Africa’s five geographical regions—North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa—under the Union’s established rotational framework. The Chairperson presides over meetings of the AU Assembly, provides political leadership, represents Africa at high-level international forums, and supports initiatives aimed at peace, security, integration, and development across the continent.
In line with this arrangement, West Africa is slated to assume the chairmanship in 2027 at the end of the current cycle. Regional economic blocs are required to conduct internal consultations and present a single consensus candidate to avoid competition within regions and promote unity.
As the coordinating body for West Africa, ECOWAS oversees this selection process. The Council of Ministers—made up of foreign affairs and regional integration ministers from member states—conducts the initial assessment and submits its recommendation to the Authority of Heads of State and Government, the bloc’s highest decision-making body.
President Mahama’s candidature followed this established procedure, receiving unanimous backing at both levels, effectively positioning him as ECOWAS’s sole nominee for the AU Chairmanship.
President Mahama is widely respected in regional and continental diplomatic circles for his extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy. He has previously served as Chair of ECOWAS, played key roles in regional peace mediation efforts, and consistently advocated for democratic governance and regional integration. Observers note that his background aligns well with the consultative and consensus-driven responsibilities of the AU Chairperson.
Following ECOWAS’ endorsement, his candidature is expected to be submitted through the African Union’s formal processes ahead of the 2027 AU Assembly, where the Chairperson will be selected by consensus or, if necessary, by a vote of member states.
