Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and the first African to lead the World Trade Organisation, will pursue a second four-year term when her current mandate ends next August, according to her spokesman, Ismaila Dieng.
“We can confirm that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has officially announced her intention to seek a second term as Director-General of the WTO,”
Dieng added that she had taken into account “the overwhelming and broad-based support expressed by members.”
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s current term as head of the 164-member World Trade Organization (WTO) is set to end in August 2025.
Her decision to seek a second term was formally communicated on Monday to the WTO chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg.
During the same meeting, the WTO’s African Group officially requested that Okonjo-Iweala be considered for another term, urging that the re-nomination process begin promptly. So far, no other candidates have come forward.
Having assumed the role in March 2021, Okonjo-Iweala has focused her leadership on revitalising the organisation. In August, 58 member states expressed their support for the African Group’s proposal endorsing her second term, a position reiterated at a WTO General Council meeting on July 22, according to a statement from the trade body.
“The African Group requests that the current Director-General make herself available to serve a second term, and has proposed that the process of reappointing the Director-General should be started as soon as possible,” the statement partly read.
“Fifty-eight members, several speaking on behalf of groups of members, took the floor to comment and express their support for the African Group proposal. They called on DG Okonjo-Iweala to make her intentions regarding a second term known as soon as possible. Most of these members praised the DG’s hard work and her achievements during her first term.
Okonjo-Iweala, 70, said she was very grateful for the support from members. “Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together,” she said.
