Dr Omar Alieu Touray Assumes Office as New President of the ECOWAS Commission – African Business

Dr. Omar Alieu Touray is a Gambian National and has been elected the President of the ECOWAS Commission. He will serve a four-year term. He takes over from Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, an Ivorian National, who has piloted the affairs of the Commission from 2018 till date.Other statutory management appointees inaugurated include Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, Commissioner for Internal Services, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Mme Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr. Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation and João Alage Mamadu Fadiá, Auditor-General.

The new President H.E. Omar Alieu Touray expressed appreciation to the President of the Republic of The Gambia and the Government of The Gambia, for proposing his candidature, as well as the Heads of State or Government of the Community, for unanimously approving and confirming his appointment.

He also thanked Jean-Claude Kassi Brou (the outgoing President) and his team, for their stewardship of the Commission over the past four-and-a-half-years. While he acknowledged the many economic and security challenges posed by COVID-19 he also promised to take on these challenges head-on, and fulfill his mandate. He urged member states to ensure full payment and implementation of ECOWAS protocol.

He expressed gratitude to the Federal Republic of Nigeria Government and its people and thanked His Excellency Ambassador Dada (Minister for State for International Affairs) and President Buhari for hosting the Commission and other institutions of ECOWAS. They also took the initiative in peacebuilding efforts and integration.

H. E Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, outgoing President, thanked H. E Muhammadu Buhari the President of Nigeria for his unflinching Support to ECOWAS Institutions. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and all incoming statutory nominees, for their nominations as leaders of ECOWAS Institutions during the 2022-2026 period.

He used the ceremony of the handing-over to highlight the achievements of 2018-2022 management, particularly in the areas promoting security, peacebuilding, and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. He praised Member States’ courage and determination to fight terrorism in the region. This led to the development of the Action Plan.

He also stated that the political front had seen the improvement of democratic culture with eleven countries holding peaceful presidential and legislative elections during his tenure. He stated that the adoption of ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card, which is currently being used in five countries, has strengthened the freedom of movement of persons as well as goods. He also highlighted the progress made in regional infrastructure development and agricultural production systems.

He thanked all staff from all ECOWAS Institutions, and encouraged them all to continue the same effort to the incoming leadership. He also thanked bilateral and multilateral Partners alike for their support.

H.E. Amb. Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, expressed gratitude to the outgoing management headed by H.E. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou congratulated the outgoing management led by H.E. for the outstanding achievements in the Region during the tenure. He congratulated H.E. Omar Alieu Touray and other statutory appointees and assured them of Nigeria’s support.

Distributed by APO Group, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).