By Zayamu Hassan
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday elected Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, the president of Guinea Bissau, as its new chairman.
Embalo was elected during the 61st Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. He will replace Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Ghanaian president, who had been the chairman since September 2020.
“In a unanimous election, the authority of heads of state of ECOWAS elected Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, president of Guinea Bissau, as the new chairman,” announced Akufo-Addo.
In his acceptance speech, Embalo promised to lead the subregional bloc to restore peace and stability to the subregion.
“Despite the challenges that we are faced with as a result of violent extremism and the current global crisis, I believe, the solidarity within ECOWAS will enable us to overcome these challenges,” said Embalo.
The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has appointed heads of its units who will pilot the affairs of the region.
Also, Gambia’s President, Omar Alieu Touray, is now the new President of the ECOWAS Commission.
He is replacing Cote d’Ivoire’s Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, who has served a 4-year mandate with an extension of three months and 10 days ending July 10.
Brou assumes office as Governor of the Central Bank of West African States, BCEAO on Monday.
The statement made available to Health Reporters noted that Touray heads a 7-member Commission in a region dogged by insecurity and political instability with three of ECOWAS 15 member States under army rule.
