Senegal General, Birame Diop, don swear in as new President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission. The ceremony happen for ECOWAS headquarters for Abuja on Monday, August 31.
Diop succeed Dr Omar Alieu Touray from The Gambia, wey serve as president of the commission for four years since 2022. The handover ceremony include signing of handover notes and presentation of certificates and gifts. E be official welcome and farewell for the incoming and outgoing officials.
Diop na retired air force general. He serve as Senegal Minister of Defence from 2024 until June 2026. Before that, he be Chief of General Staff of Senegalese Armed Forces and later military adviser to United Nations Department of Peace Operations. He also serve with UN peacekeeping mission for Bunia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The new ECOWAS Commission management team include Anthony Ogunjimi as Vice-President. The new commissioners na Amin Amidu Sulemani (CIED), Dehpue Yenpea Zuo (CEAAs), Arifari Nassirou Bako (CHDSAs), Frances Piagie Alghali (CPAPS), and Dr Kalilou Sylla (CISs). The statutory appointees include Carla Maria Borges Bettencourt as Auditor-General, Dr Palokinam Pitche as Director-General of West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and Mam Cherno Jallow as Director-General of Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
Touray tenure don mark by big political and security upheavals for West Africa, including withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the regional bloc. He preside over organisation during period wey political transitions, insecurity, economic pressures and humanitarian challenges dey.
Under Touray, ECOWAS continue to pursue Vision 2050, with focus on regional integration, free movement, trade, youth employment, agriculture, healthcare and humanitarian response. Distribution of 30 medical ambulances to member states na example of how dem dey translate regional solidarity into practical support.
Before im handover, Touray don do farewell engagements with regional leaders, including Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, wey im thank for im support for the four-year mandate.
Now, as Touray and im team hand over on August 31, the new leadership inherit organisation at crossroads. Dem must address insecurity, economic development, mobility and how to rebuild West African unity after departure of three key Sahelian states.
