Sierra Leone will host the 69th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States on July 19, 2026, at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre.
Chaired by Julius Maada Bio, the summit comes as the regional bloc faces growing security, political, and institutional challenges. Ahead of the meeting, Freetown will host a series of statutory sessions from July 12 to 17, including meetings of the Committee on Administration and Finance, the Mediation and Security Council, and the Council of Ministers.
On July 18, President Bio is expected to inaugurate the new international conference centre and the ECOWAS Logistics Depot, aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s capacity to host major regional events and support ECOWAS operations.
The summit is expected to focus on regional security, institutional reforms, and the future leadership of ECOWAS. With President Bio’s tenure as rotating chairman nearing its end, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye is widely expected to assume the rotating presidency, while General Birame Diop is set to lead the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026–2030 term.
If confirmed, Senegal would hold both the political leadership and executive administration of the regional bloc, placing Dakar at the forefront of efforts to address insecurity, redefine relations with the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), and advance regional integration across West Africa.
