ECOWAS Chairmanship Election: President Bio Defeated by Senegal’s Faye, Claims Melvin Tejan Mansaray
Journalist and social commentator Melvin Tejan Mansaray has claimed that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio was defeated by Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the election for Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held at the 69th summit in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on Sunday, July 19 2026.
Mansaray made the statement in a telephone interview during a live broadcast on Libertv Online TV while commenting on the outcome of the regional bloc’s leadership transition.
According to him, President Faye emerged as the new ECOWAS Chairman, replacing President Bio, who had served in the role.
The 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority took place at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, where Heads of State and Government from the 15-member bloc met to deliberate on regional peace, security, economic integration, and democratic governance.
ECOWAS leadership is determined by consensus among member states and typically rotates among presidents of member countries. The chairmanship is usually held for a one-year term, with the possibility of extension based on the decision of the Authority.
President Bio handed over the chairmanship to President Faye during the summit.