His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and current Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, met with His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire, in Abidjan on August 11, 2025. The meeting was part of President Bio’s ongoing regional tour among ECOWAS Member States.
During a closed-door discussion followed by a press briefing, President Ouattara described President Bio as a close friend and expressed Côte d’Ivoire’s full support for his tenure as ECOWAS Chairman. He acknowledged the region’s significant challenges but stated his confidence in President Bio’s ability to address these issues.
President Ouattara also announced support for President Bio’s initiative to deepen cooperation between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
President Bio explained that the purpose of his regional tour is to unify and strengthen ECOWAS. He referenced several challenges he inherited upon assuming leadership, including security concerns and the departure of AES member countries. “We must strive to maintain close ties with AES nations and foster collaboration,” said President Bio.
He further stated that his talks with President Ouattara focused on enhancing integration within ECOWAS and implementing institutional reforms to overcome obstacles facing the organization. Additionally, he commended the people of Côte d’Ivoire for their ongoing support to Sierra Leone during its peace process.
For further information regarding this engagement or other activities involving State House Sierra Leone, inquiries can be directed to [email protected].