The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has a new leader in the person of Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari.
The leadership of the bloc revolves annually among heads of state.
Buhari was chosen to lead the regional political bloc at the end of a summit in the Togolese capital of Lome on Monday evening. A media aide to Buhari tweeted the news of his chairmanship.
The leader of Africa’s most populous nation takes over the reigns from his Togolese counterpart, Faure Gnassingbe, who has been leader over the last year.
Bashir Ahmad✔@BashirAhmaad
JUST IN: President @MBuhari emerges as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS.
Preceding the 53rd ECOWAS Heads of State summit was a joint summit between ECOWASand the Central African bloc, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
A communique issued at the close of the summit said its aim “was to create conditions for sustainable peace and a secured environment in the common area of the two regions.”
Heads of State or representatives from ECOWAS
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Heads of State or representatives from ECCAS
Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad.