… appoints new commissioners and judges
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has elected Senegalese President His Excellency Bassirou Faye as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, replacing Dr. Julius Bio, President of Sierra Leone.
The decision was taken on Tuesday during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, according to a final communiqué issued at the end of the summit.
The regional bloc also approved a new set of appointments to fill strategic statutory positions and specialised institutions for the period 2026–2030.
“The Authority endorses the recommendations from the Ninety-Sixth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers relating to statutory appointments to positions in Community Institutions for the period 2026–2030,” the communiqué stated.
His Excellency Bassirou Faye, President of Senegal and New Chairman of ECOWAS
New Appointments Across ECOWAS Institutions
ECOWAS leaders approved the appointment of five new Commissioners to replace the outgoing ones at the ECOWAS Commission whose tenures will soon elapse.
The new commissioners include Mrs. Francess Alghali (Sierra Leone) as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mr. Dehpue Zuo (Liberia) as Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, and Dr. Kalilou Sylla (Ivory Coast) as Commissioner for Internal Services.
Meanwhile, Mr Amin Suleiman (Ghana) will serve as Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, followed by Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari (Benin) as the Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs.
The Authority also appointed five new judges to the ECOWAS Court of Justice where Awa Bah of the The Gambia; Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia; Désiré Aihou of Benin; Henrietta Didigu of Nigeria; and the current Chief Registrar of the Court, Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo respectively.
Other key appointments include Ms. Carla Bettencourt of Cape Verde as the Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions. Dr Palokinam Pitche of Togo will serve as the Director-General, West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
Mr. Mam Jallow of the Gambia will be the Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.
The summit expressed “profound appreciation to the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, for his distinguished service to the community” and welcomed his successor, Gen. Birame Diop of Senegal.
Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS
The Authority expresses confidence in the incoming President
“The Authority expresses confidence in the incoming President’s extensive diplomatic, military, and strategic expertise to provide strategic leadership to deepen regional integration and address regional challenges,” the communiqué posited.
The Authority also accepted Nigeria’s request for an additional two weeks to review and resolve the ECOWAS Vice-President position, which was allocated to the country at the 69th summit chaired by the outgoing Chairman Dr Julius Bio of Sierra Leone.
Presidents in attendance included Romuald Wadagni of Benin; José Neves of Cape Verde; Adama Barrow of The Gambia; John Mahama of Ghana; Joseph Boakai of Liberia and the new Chairman Bassirou Faye of Senegal.
Other dignitaries were Tiémoko Koné, Vice President of Côte d’Ivoire; Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria; Gen. Mamady Doumbouya (Guinea); Robert Dussey, Togolese Foreign Affairs Minister; and Mohamed Ghazouani, President of Mauritania.
Also present were Amb. Baba Kamara, ECOWAS Special Envoy on Counterterrorism; Musa Sillah, Chairman, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Taskforce; and Mr. Mahamadou Gado, representing the President of the UEMOA Commission.
The 69th summit had Dr Omar Touray, ECOWAS President; Ms. Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General; Dr. Lansana Kouyaté, ECOWAS Chief Negotiator; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, ECOWAS Business Council; and Dr. Abdul Kamara of the African Development Bank (AfDB) as representatives.
