By Josephine Sesay
President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, in his capacity as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, paid a one-day working visit to Abidjan where he and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara reaffirmed their commitment to regional integration, security cooperation, and the revitalization of the Mano River Union.
The visit comes as part of President Bio’s ongoing diplomatic tour of ECOWAS Member States aimed at reinforcing solidarity across the region amid mounting political and security challenges.
Speaking to the press following a closed-door meeting, President Ouattara praised President Bio’s leadership and described him as a trusted partner in the shared effort to strengthen regional institutions.
“President Bio is a friend and a leader with deep commitment to West Africa’s future,” said President Ouattara. “Côte d’Ivoire stands fully behind his efforts to unify ECOWAS and confront the challenges we face as a region.”
President Ouattara also expressed his strong support for President Bio’s push to re-engage with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), whose recent departure from ECOWAS has sparked concerns about regional fragmentation.
In his remarks, President Bio emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue and deeper cooperation to secure long-term stability.
“The region is at a crossroads,” he said. “We must build bridges, not barriers, especially with our AES brothers. Strengthening ECOWAS and ensuring that no country is left behind is central to my mission.”
The leaders also discussed the relaunch of the Mano River Union, a sub-regional bloc involving Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Guinea. Once a vital platform for cooperation, the union has been largely dormant in recent years. Both presidents agreed that revitalizing it could serve as a catalyst for economic integration and peacebuilding.
President Bio further acknowledged Côte d’Ivoire’s enduring support for Sierra Leone, especially during the country’s post-conflict recovery.
With ECOWAS grappling with institutional challenges and the impact of recent political instability across the region, the Bio-Ouattara meeting is being viewed as a positive signal of renewed collaboration and leadership.
President Bio is expected to continue his tour in the coming weeks, engaging with other ECOWAS leaders to advance his vision for a more unified and resilient West Africa.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on ednesday,13th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
