WTO: Okonjo-Iweala's Nomination Pits ECOWAS Against AU

The last hasn't been heard about the nomination of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by Nigeria for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The latest from the controversy of her nomination is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) throwing its weight behind Okonjo-Iweala despite the African Union (AU) and Egypt's protest against her nomination.

ECOWAS stated that it recognised the WTO nomination deadline which is 8 July 2020, as against the November 31 set by AU. WTO had announced that nomination opened on June 8, 2020, but AU had scheduled November 2019 in order to enable the continent have time to select a single candidate.

However, the AU couldn't agree on a consensus candidate when the body met February 2020. Nigeria later on June 4, 2020, substituted its candidate Yonov Agah, replacing him with Okonjo-Iweala - that was when trouble started in AU, with Egypt protesting the replacement and AU backing Egypt by disqualifying Okonjo-Iweala - although, other countries like Benin had withdrawn their candidate and backed Okonjo-Iweala, while former Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf supported her nomination as well.

“The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government takes note of the communication by the Chairman of the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) announcing the commencement of a process for the appointment of a new Director-General of VVTO, with the opening and closing dates of nominations set as 8 June and 8 July 2020 respectively,” ECOWAS said.

ECOWAS Speaks Against Not Nominating Okonjo-Iweala

Speaking on her candidacy in a document signed by ECOWAS president, Mahamadou Issoufou, ECOWAS said Okonjo-Iweala is a fearless reformer with excellent negotiating and political skills. ECOWAS stated that her 30 years vast experience in global economy practices including being a Minister for Nigeria earned her their endorsement to contest for the position of Director-General of the WTO for the period of 2021-2025.

ECOWAS said Africa had never produced the Director-General of WTO since inception, so African countries, as well as non-African countries, should endorse Okonjo-Iweala's candidature, "Having acknowledged the strong academic and professional background of Dr. Okonjo-lweala and her very large experience in national affairs as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister briefly in 2006;

“Having further acknowledged her long years of managerial experience at the top echelons of multilateral institutions, her established reputation as a fearless reformer, her excellent negotiating and political skills, her experience of over 30 years as a Development Economist with a long standing interest in trade, her excellent academic qualifications, her positions as Managing Director World Bank, and currently as Board Chair Gavi, and African Union Special Envoy to Mobilize Financial Resources for the fight against Covid19,

“Endorses the candidature of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-lweala for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization for the period 2021-2025; and Calls on other African countries as well as non-African countries to endorse her candidature,” the statement said.

WTO Defends Nigeria's Decision, Ignores AU, Egypt

AllNews had reported that the WTO stated that Okonjo-Iweala is still eligible to contest for the WTO Director General's office despite the African Union disqualifying her nomination to represent Nigeria. According to WTO, members of WTO have the right to submit a representative. Regardless of AU's rule, all that is needed to contest for the Director-General seat is for a candidate to have the backing of its country, not necessarily AU. So Okonjo-Iweala is qualified to contest.