DAKAR, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Senegal has been elected to lead the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the 2026-2030 term, Senegalese authorities announced on Sunday.

According to a statement released by the Senegalese Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, the decision was taken at the 68th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, held the same day in Abuja, Nigeria. It marks the first time Senegal has been entrusted with the presidency of the ECOWAS Commission.

Established in 1975, ECOWAS currently has 12 member states, namely Benin, Togo, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. In January 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from the organization. ■