Freetown: Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Bio, has called for enhanced collaboration among leaders to tackle terrorism, boost democratic governance, and strengthen intra-regional trade.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, President Bio urged member states to build a stronger partnership between ECOWAS and the recently formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This appeal was made during his high-level visits to Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Cape Verde, and Senegal.

The statement from the State House in Freetown highlighted Bio’s discussions with Presidents Umaro Embal³ of Guinea-Bissau, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Bassirou Faye of Senegal, and Cape Verde Prime Minister Jos© Neves. These visits were part of Bio’s efforts to fortify subregional collaboration to address the bloc’s critical challenges.

“He stressed the necessity of collective action to overcome challenges that impeded economic integration and undermine peace and security in the subregion,” the statement noted. Bio emphasized the importance of cooperation with all ECOWAS member states, including those undergoing political transitions, to foster regional stability.

Throughout his visits, Bio expressed gratitude to his West African counterparts for the opportunity to serve as ECOWAS Chairman during such a pivotal time. His hosts recognized the strong bilateral ties between their countries and Sierra Leone and congratulated him on his election.

The statement also noted that Bio is committed to leveraging the experience of former ECOWAS Authority chairpersons to achieve substantial progress. NAN further reported that Bio’s recent visits follow similar diplomatic engagements in Togo, Ghana, and C´te d’Ivoire.