Directorate of the WTO –
Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the only candidate for her succession
The director general of the World Trade Organization has announced that she is seeking a second term at the head of the organization.
Published today at 2:24 p.m.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
AFP/MARTIAL TREZZINI
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The first woman and first African at the head of the WTO, the Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 70, whose mandate ends on August 31, 2025, is the only candidate for her succession, the organization announced on Saturday.
The Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), whose first term appointment had been blocked for months by former US President Donald Trump, announced on September 16 that she was seeking a second term as head. of this organization.
The Chairman of the General Council, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, informed WTO members on Saturday “that no further applications for the position of Director-General had been received before the deadline of 8 November and that the Director-General In office, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was therefore the only candidate for this position,” the organization said in a press release.
“A convergence of views”
The procedure should have started in December, nine months before the mandate expired. But the WTO brought it forward by two months, to October 8, the Norwegian ambassador, responsible for overseeing the procedure, having estimated that there was “a convergence of views in terms of starting the process (. ..) sooner than expected.
Countries had one month to propose candidates. The usual procedure is that the candidates then have three months to dialogue with the countries, followed by two months devoted to a consultation process to allow the General Council – which brings together all the members of the WTO – to make its choice.
As with all decisions at the WTO, the directors general are chosen by consensus by all members, who currently number 166.
Ms. Okonjo-Iweala took office in March 2021. Although having received the broadest support from WTO members, her nomination was blocked by the former Trump administration, which preferred the South Korean candidate. The arrival at the White House of Joe Biden, who offered his support, made it possible to break the deadlock, but the organization remained for several months without a leader at its head.
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