At a critical moment for regional integration, General Birame Diop of Senegal has assumed office as President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, calling for renewed unity, solidarity and cooperation among member states.
Diop took over from Dr Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia on Monday during a formal handover ceremony at the ECOWAS Commission’s new headquarters in Abuja, bringing to a close Touray’s four-year tenure.
In his inaugural address, the new ECOWAS Commission President urged staff and stakeholders to put aside divisions and work collectively to strengthen the regional institution.
“My solemn appeal to all of you is to make way for unity and solidarity, based on mutual respect,” Diop said.
He stressed that the success of the regional integration project would depend on ECOWAS’ ability to remain united, purposeful and responsive to the challenges confronting West Africa.
“A new chapter has been opened for West African integration. Let us work together to make it a chapter of peace, dignity and shared prosperity,” he added.
New Leadership Team Emerges
The transition also ushered in a new leadership team at the Commission, with Nigeria’s Anthony Ogunjimi assuming office as Vice President, succeeding Damtien Tchintchibidja of Togo.
Other statutory appointees include Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire as Commissioner for Internal Services; Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Dehpue Yenpea Zuo of Liberia as Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Amin Amidu Sulemani of Ghana as Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; and Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin as Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs.
Also taking up new positions are Carla Maria Borges Bettencourt of Cabo Verde as Auditor-General, Palokinam Pitche of Togo as Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and Mam Cherno Jallow as Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
Touray Hands Over Record of Four-Year Tenure
For the outgoing Commission President, the ceremony provided an opportunity to reflect on his four years at the helm of ECOWAS.
Touray said his administration was leaving behind not merely “memories, speeches and decisions”, but “a record” of institutional and regional accomplishments.
The handover featured the unveiling of the ECOWAS@50 Special Exclusive Publication by Africa Agenda Network in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission, as well as the presentation of the Management Performance Compendium to Diop.
The outgoing and incoming leadership also formally signed the handover notes, completing the transition.
With the new leadership now in place, attention will turn to Diop and his team to steer ECOWAS through the complex political, security and economic pressures confronting the region.
The transition represents more than a change of personalities at the Commission; it signals a renewed push to preserve regional cohesion, strengthen integration and advance peace and shared prosperity across West Africa.
