Gen. Birame Diop Assumes Office as New ECOWAS Commission President

General Birame Diop has assumed office as the new President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.

Diop, a former Senegalese Minister of Defence and former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, was appointed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Summit in Sierra Leone.

He succeeds Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure as President of the ECOWAS Commission has ended.

In his new role, Diop has pledged to provide strategic leadership as ECOWAS intensifies efforts to strengthen regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness.

Under his leadership, the regional bloc is expected to introduce reforms and new approaches to programme implementation, while consolidating key initiatives aimed at promoting economic integration, security and political stability across West Africa.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Anthony Ogunjimi has been appointed as the new Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, while all Commissioners have also been replaced.