Senegalese General Takes Helm Of ECOWAS Commission As Bloc Begins Leadership Transition

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 3, 2026

Retired General Birame Diop of Senegal has assumed the presidency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, taking over from Gambian Dr Omar Alieu Touray as the West African regional bloc enters a new leadership cycle amid continuing challenges to regional integration.

Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria has also taken office as vice-president, succeeding Damtien Tchintchibidja of Togo.

The leadership changes were formalised at a handover ceremony at the ECOWAS Commission’s new headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, following the completion of the previous leadership team’s four-year mandate.

Diop takes charge at a time when ECOWAS is seeking to preserve regional cooperation following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the bloc and the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States. In his inaugural address, the new commission president called for greater unity and open communication among West African states, including the three countries that have left ECOWAS.

He said regional cooperation should continue on issues that cross national borders, including security, connectivity, movement of people and cross-border infrastructure projects.

“Nothing should prevent us from working together for the unity of our peoples and their well-being,” Diop said.

He urged ECOWAS staff and member states to strengthen solidarity and mutual respect, saying the effectiveness of regional integration would depend on the bloc’s ability to remain united and pursue common objectives.

“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 said.

Diop’s appeal for engagement with the Sahel states comes as ECOWAS faces one of its most significant institutional challenges since its establishment. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally exited the organisation in January 2025 after prolonged disputes with the bloc following military takeovers in the three countries.

The new president said ECOWAS should maintain communication with “all entities and organisations” in the region, including its “brothers in the Alliance of Sahel States”.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, urged the incoming leadership to focus on implementing regional programmes and projects that produce measurable results for citizens.

He said ECOWAS should demonstrate the value of the financial contributions made by member states, including through the Community Levy, by translating regional policies and commitments into improvements in livelihoods, peace, security and development.

“For Nigeria, ECOWAS must continue to justify the huge investments and sacrifices that have been made,” Enikanolaiye said.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the regional organisation and said its relevance would ultimately be judged by its ability to deliver tangible outcomes for West Africans.

Alongside Diop and Ogunjimi, ECOWAS appointed a new group of statutory officials. Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire became commissioner for internal services, while Francess Piagie Alghali of Sierra Leone assumed responsibility for political affairs, peace and security.

Dehpue Yenpea Zuo of Liberia was appointed commissioner for economic affairs and agriculture, while Amin Amidu Sulemani of Ghana became commissioner for infrastructure, energy and digitalisation.

Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin took over as commissioner for human development and social affairs. Carla Maria Borges Bettencourt of Cabo Verde became auditor-general for ECOWAS institutions.

Palokinam Pitche of Togo was appointed director-general of the West African Health Organisation, while Mam Cherno Jallow became director-general of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.

The transition also saw the departure of several senior officials, including Habibu Bappah, former commissioner for internal services; Kalilou Sylla, former commissioner for economic affairs and agriculture; Fatou Sow Sarr, former commissioner for human development and social affairs; Joao Alage Mamadu Fadia, former auditor-general; and Melchior Aïssi, former director-general of the West African Health Organisation.

Touray, in his farewell address, said the outgoing administration was leaving behind an institutional record of its four-year tenure, rather than only speeches and decisions.

The handover ceremony also included the signing of transition documents by incoming and outgoing officials and the presentation of the management performance compendium to Diop.

Diop now faces the task of leading the commission through a period in which regional security, political divisions and the future of West African integration are placing new demands on the bloc. His emphasis on maintaining communication with the Sahel states signals an attempt to keep channels of regional cooperation open despite the formal rupture between ECOWAS and the three departing countries.

Source: FSX Business News