Fact Check: Is President Julius Maada Bio the First Sierra Leonean Head of State to Chair ECOWAS?

Left to Right, Outgoing ECOWAS chairman and Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the handing over ceremony of the ECOWAS leadership to his successor, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone in Abuja, Nigeria

Claim: President Julius Maada Bio is the first Sierra Leonean Head of State to chair the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in its 50-year history.

Verdict: False. Siaka Stevens, former President of Sierra Leone, held the ECOWAS Chairmanship from 1981 to 1982.

Context: Following President Julius Maada Bio’s election as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on June 22, 2025, a wave of congratulatory messages surfaced on social media and in official communications. Among these was a claim by Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister and Chief Innovation Officer, who asserted in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that President Bio is the first Sierra Leonean to hold this position in ECOWAS’s 50-year history.

This claim was echoed by various individuals and platforms, sparking widespread belief that Bio’s appointment marked a first for the nation.

Evidence: A review of ECOWAS leadership records reveals that Sierra Leone has previously held the ECOWAS chairmanship. Specifically, former President Siaka Stevens served as Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS from 1981 to 1982.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was founded on May 28, 1975, with 15 West African nations, including Sierra Leone, as founding members. Since then, leadership of the bloc has rotated among the heads of state of its member countries.

From 1975 to 2025, 38 Heads of State from 14 different countries have chaired ECOWAS. Nigeria has held the chairmanship the most times (10), followed by Ghana, Senegal, and Togo.

Below are notable ECOWAS Chairpersons from Sierra Leone:

• Siaka Stevens (1981–1982)

• Julius Maada Bio (2025–Present)

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This historical fact contradicts the claim made by Dr. Sengeh.

Conclusion: The assertion that President Julius Maada Bio is the first Sierra Leonean to serve as ECOWAS Chairperson is false. Former President Siaka Stevens held that role over four decades ago, in 1981. While Bio’s election as ECOWAS Chair is a significant diplomatic achievement, it is not without precedent for Sierra Leone.

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