ECOWAS Commission President Gen. Birsne Diop
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ushered in a new leadership as General Birame Diop officially assumed office as President of the ECOWAS Commission, pledging to deepen regional integration and strengthen peace and security across West Africa.
General Diop, who previously served as Senegal’s Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, was appointed during the 69th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Sierra Leone.
He takes over from Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure as President of the ECOWAS Commission has ended.
Speaking after assuming office, Diop pledged to provide strategic leadership to advance the regional bloc’s objectives, with a focus on promoting economic cooperation, enhancing institutional effectiveness, and addressing security challenges facing member states.
His administration is also expected to introduce reforms and adopt new approaches to implementing ECOWAS programmes while sustaining ongoing initiatives aimed at boosting economic integration, political stability, and regional security.
As part of the leadership transition, Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria has been appointed as the new Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission. The regional organisation also announced the appointment of a new set of commissioners to drive its programmes and policies.
The leadership changes mark the beginning of a new phase for ECOWAS as it seeks to strengthen cooperation among member states and respond more effectively to emerging political, economic, and security challenges across the region.
