Sierra Leone Hands Over ECOWAS PRC Chairmanship to Senegal

Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Julius F. Sandy, has handed over the chairmanship of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) to Senegal’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Nicolas Auguste Nyouky.

The handover ceremony, held on Thursday at the Sierra Leone High Commission in Abuja, brought together ECOWAS Permanent Representatives, senior officials of the ECOWAS Commission, and High Commission staff.

The transition follows the election of Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at the 69th Ordinary Summit, succeeding Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada

Bio. Under ECOWAS practice, the representative of the country holding the Authority chairmanship also leads the PRC.

In his first address as PRC Chair, Ambassador Nyouky pledged to promote dialogue, consultation, and institutional continuity while advancing the Committee’s mandate. He also praised Dr Sandy for his leadership and professionalism during his tenure.

Dr Sandy, in his farewell remarks, thanked ECOWAS colleagues for their support and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional integration and cooperation.

As Chair, Ambassador Nyouky will oversee the PRC’s monthly sessions, guide its advisory role to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and co-chair the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the ambassadorial level.

The new PRC Bureau will be headed by Senegal, with Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Ghana serving as former chairs, while Togo remains Dean and an ex-officio member. The Committee is also expected to appoint an interim Bureau member following Guinea-Bissau’s suspension from ECOWAS decision-making bodies.