At the end of the 68th ordinary session of ECOWAS held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 14 December 2025, Senegal was chosen to chair the organisation’s Commission for the period 2026-2030. For the first time since ECOWAS was created in 1975, Dakar has been given this strategic role, recognising the country’s active diplomacy and its role as a mediator within West Africa.
For the first time since its creation in 1975, Senegal is taking the helm of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission for the 2026–2030 term, following the 68th Ordinary Session held on 14 December 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria. With a population of 18.4 million and a GDP of between 34 and 35 billion dollars, the country positions itself as a mid-sized economy in the region. Under this mandate, Senegal intends to restore the organisation’s image and strengthen dialogue among Member States.
This was no accidental triumph; I must emphasize that this victory was meticulously conceived, developed, and executed. The true architect of this success was the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who personally initiated the idea of this candidacy.
Cheikh Niang, Minister for African Integration – Senegal
Dakar’s selection highlights Senegal’s active diplomacy under President Faye and its traditional mediating role in West Africa. Integration Minister Cheikh Niang notes ECOWAS’s « credibility issues. » Senegal seeks to revitalize the organization through enhanced dialogue, potential reintegration of Sahel States Alliance members, and by cementing its role as a regional stability guarantor.
The initial approach by ECOWAS was flawed, I believe. In some ways, the regional body was overly severe with the departing countries. The support offered was insufficient. Senegal’s priority is to re-establish the credibility of ECOWAS. We aim to achieve this through dialogue, reaching out to our brothers in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, extending a hand to them to facilitate their return.
Cheikh Niang, Minister for African Integration – Senegal
The Senegalese Armed Forces, comprising 17,000 personnel and operating on a budget of between 350 and 400 million dollars, represent a key pillar in preventing political crises. The emphasis is on institutional stability, a priority that is expected to be reflected in the country’s action within the Commission.
Equally crucial is the choice of the Senegalese individual: it must be someone with a genuine track record, expertise, and the necessary personal stature. Their selection, beyond simply being Senegalese, is vital to offer the Commission—and by extension, ECOWAS—a real opportunity for revitalisation.
Gilles Yabi, Political analyst – Benin
At the crossroads of diplomacy, security and economic development, Senegal is positioning itself as a key player in revitalising ECOWAS. Fifty years after the organisation’s creation, Dakar now embodies a renewed ambition: to strengthen regional integration, stabilise the region and restore to ECOWAS the prestige and influence it requires.
