Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Wonie Bio is the new chairman of ECOWAS. He is assuming leadership at a time of unprecedented turmoil across West Africa. The region is confronted with jihadist violence, political instability, and economic stagnation.
“Bio pledged to strengthen democracy, security cooperation, and regional integration”, AP reports (via africa.com). ECOWAS is in trouble: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger exited the bloc following military coups. They formed a rival alliance and are looking for support from Russia.
Bio has supported military action against Niger’s junta when it seized power. In Sierra Leone he struggles with a drug crisis and economic challenges.
Photo: President Bio; Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
