WTO Announces Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala As Only Candidate For Director-General Position
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has confirmed that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General, is the only candidate for reappointment as her first term approaches its conclusion. According to a statement from the WTO on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala officially expressed her interest in serving a second four-year term on September 16, 2024.
This announcement clears the way for her reappointment, as no other candidates have emerged. The WTO initiated the process of selecting its next Director-General on October 8, 2024, giving member nations until November 8, 2024, to submit nominations.
In a communication to WTO members, Petter Olberg, chair of the WTO’s General Council, confirmed that no additional nominations were received by the deadline, effectively securing Okonjo-Iweala’s path to continue in the role.
The only candidacy received for the post of Director-General is from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the incumbent Director-General,” Olberg said in his statement. He further noted that the communication from Okonjo-Iweala expressing her willingness to serve another term had been circulated to all members.
The WTO added that Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is set to end on August 31, 2025. Okonjo-Iweala, who made history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO, was appointed to her first term on February 15, 2021.
While her second-term bid had faced some uncertainty during the final months of the Trump administration, which had blocked her nomination in favor of South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, her appointment was ultimately backed by the administration of President Joe Biden after Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.
The WTO’s General Council chair indicated that the next steps in the appointment process will be communicated soon, confirming Okonjo-Iweala’s continued leadership of the global trade body.
