President Bola Tinubu was elected as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government during the 63rd Ordinary Session of ECOWAS. The session occurred in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, on the afternoon of Sunday, July 9, 2023.
Following the handover from the outgoing chairman, President Umaro Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, President Tinubu expressed his commitment to upholding democracy. He acknowledged the challenges of democracy but emphasized its importance as a form of government.
The position of ECOWAS Chairmanship is filled by a rotating selection of heads of state or government from member countries, with each serving for one year. Former President Muhammadu Buhari held the position from 2018 to 2019.
