His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, has called for a closer and more robust partnership between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. This call was made during a courtesy visit from His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, to State House on August 5th, 2025.
In his remarks as Chairman, President Bio welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of strengthened collaboration between the Authority and the ECOWAS Commission. He emphasized that forging deeper relations with the AES countries is vital for promoting trade, facilitating free movement, and enhancing peace and security across the region. “It is imperative that we build a stronger relationship between ECOWAS and the AES nations and harness this partnership to advance our Community,” he affirmed.
President Bio also reaffirmed his support for democratic transitions and electoral processes within the subregion, highlighting the ongoing transition in Guinea and the upcoming elections in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.
Furthermore, he called for the convening of a Special Summit focused on the future of West Africa and the Community at large, commemorating 50 years of cooperation, collaboration, and integration.
During the visit, the ECOWAS Commission President provided President Bio with a comprehensive update on the Community’s current status. He acknowledged the leadership challenges faced by the Chairman amid the numerous issues confronting the subregion.
Dr. Touray briefed the Chairman on the political situations in various member states, discussed matters related to the Community Levy, and reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the Chairman to promote regional unity. He also shared updates on administrative affairs.
Additionally, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray assured President Bio that the Commission would soon deploy an assessment mission to Sierra Leone and Guinea as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the Yenga border dispute between the two countries
