ECOWAS appoints Birame Diop and Mam Cherno Jallow to key leadership roles

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has undergone significant leadership changes. Birame Diop, a retired Senegalese Air Force officer and former Minister of the Armed Forces, has officially assumed the presidency of the ECOWAS Commission. Succeeding Gambian Omar Alieu Touray, Diop took office during a ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, on August 31, 2026. In his inaugural address, Diop emphasized the need for unity, solidarity, and mutual respect to address the region's political, security, and economic challenges.

In a separate appointment, Mam Cherno Jallow has been named the new Director General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). Appointed by the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government during its 69th ordinary session in Sierra Leone, Jallow is a Gambian financial economist with over 35 years of experience. He previously served in various strategic roles within the ECOWAS Commission, including a tenure as head of strategic planning and evaluation.