France, July 20 -- Meeting at Ecowas's 69th ordinary summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, leaders also approved the construction of a gas pipeline linking Nigeria and Morocco and adopted a long-term plan aimed at improving security, democracy and economic integration.

"Ecowas needs profound change," Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio said as he opened the summit on Sunday.

The organisation has been weakened by the withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) - Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in 2025.

Diop, the only candidate for the post, succeeds Gambian diplomat Omar Alieu Touray as president of the commission - the body's executive arm.

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