A summit of heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will take place in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, on July 19.
At the summit, leaders of member states will consider key political decisions, adopt strategic resolutions, and elect a new President of the ECOWAS Commission. According to an RFI source familiar with the matter, the launch of several economic projects is expected.
In May, Senegal's Foreign Ministry announced that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye plans to put forward the candidacy of retired Air Force General and former Defense Minister Birame Diop for the post of new ECOWAS Commission President.
In December 2025, the ECOWAS Summit elected Senegal to chair the organization's Commission for 2026-2030. Additionally, during the previous summit, Sierra Leone's President and ECOWAS Chairman Julius Maada Bio announced that the organization would create an anti-terrorist brigade of 1,650 military personnel by the end of 2026.