The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Government, President Julius Maada Bio, has successfully concluded high-level visits to Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Cape Verde and Senegal.
These visits aimed at consolidating support from fellow Heads of State and Government to strengthen regional collaboration in tackling key challenges, a statement said.
In each nation, President Bio received a warm and fraternal welcome from his counterparts: His Excellency Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, His Excellency Adama Barrow of The Gambia, His Excellency José Maria Neves of Cape Verde, and His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal.
According to the statement, these leaders took the opportunity to reflect on the robust bilateral ties existing with Sierra Leone, extending heartfelt congratulations to President Bio on his election as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority.
They each reaffirmed their commitment to working with him for the successful accomplishment of his mandate. Throughout these visits, President Bio expressed his gratitude for the honour to serve as Chairman during this critical period for West Africa.
He stressed the necessity of collective action to overcome challenges that impede economic integration and undermine peace and security in the subregion.
He pledged to collaborate closely with fellow leaders to combat terrorism, enhance democratic governance, and invigorate intra-regional trade. The President also highlighted the urgency of bolstering cooperation with all ECOWAS members states, including those in political transition.
Particularly, he emphasized forging stronger partnership between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). These high-level engagements demonstrate the significance of cohesive leadership in overcoming the challenges facing the ECOWAS community. President Bio is poised to draw on the experience and insights of previous Chairpersons of the ECOWAS Authority to drive meaningful progress, the statement stressed.
It would be recalled that last week, President Bio paid high-level visits to Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire.