Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, the new ECOWAS Chairman, is leading fresh efforts to bring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger back into the regional bloc after their dramatic withdrawal in January 2025.
The three countries, now united under the Alliance of Sahel States, exited ECOWAS following military coups, accusing the body of bowing to foreign interests and punishing them with sanctions.
Bio is banking on diplomacy and his personal rapport with the Sahel leaders, stressing the need for unity and regional stability during his ongoing West African shuttle diplomacy.
ECOWAS, on its part, has kept the door open, extending mediation efforts and inviting the breakaway states to the upcoming 2025 West Africa Economic Summit—seen as a test of political will on both sides.
👉 What’s your take—can Bio succeed where others failed? Should ECOWAS bend, or should the Sahel states soften their stance? Drop your comments below.
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