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Senegalese president elected new chairman of West African bloc

Xinhua, May 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Senegalese President Macky Sall is elected here late Tuesday as new chairman of sub-regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He is expected to chair the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS for a one-year term.

The election took place at the 47th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional bloc which saw 13 sub-regional heads attending.

Sall replaces Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama who stepped down at the end of his one-year tenure which ended in March after his election in Yamoussoukro in La Cote d'Ivoire in March 2014.

"I have known President Macky Sall for some time, He is a young vibrant politician, an avowed democrat, and I know the sub-region is safe in his hands," Mahama said while handing over the plaque and gavel of office to his successor.

Mahama, Sall, and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan proceeded to Burkina Faso in November last year when that country' s longest serving leader Blaise Compaore was deposed after a public protestation.

The three, on behalf of the sub-regional bloc laid the foundation for the transitional process being implemented in Burkina Faso.

The Senegalese president paid a glowing tribute to Mahama for his sterling leadership in the affairs of the sub-region. Endi