Complete List Of ECOWAS Presidents From 1975 Till Date
This is the most comprehensive list of the Economic Community of West African States from when the office was established to the present.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a group of 15 West African countries working together politically and economically.
Established on May 28, 1975, through the Treaty of Lagos, ECOWAS promotes economic growth, raises living standards, and creates a united trading bloc.
It encourages the free movement of people and supports tourism through plans like the Ecotour Action Plan (2019–2029). ECOWAS also helps maintain peace by sending joint military forces during crises. In 2024, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali withdrew after military takeovers.
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Complete List Of ECOWAS Presidents From 1975 Till Date
No | Name | Country | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aboubakar Diaby Ouattara | Ivory Coast | January 1977 – 1985 |
2 | Momodu Munu | Sierra Leone | 1985 – 1989 |
3 | Abass Bundu | Sierra Leone | 1989 – 1993 |
4 | Édouard Benjamin | Guinea | 1993 – 1997 |
5 | Lansana Kouyaté | Guinea | September 1997 – January 31, 2002 |
6 | Mohamed Ibn Chambas | Ghana | February 1, 2002 – December 31, 2006 |
7 | Mohamed Ibn Chambas | Ghana | January 1, 2007 – February 18, 2010 |
8 | James Victor Gbeho | Ghana | February 18, 2010 – March 1, 2012 |
9 | Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo | Burkina Faso | March 1, 2012 – June 4, 2016 |
10 | Marcel Alain de Souza | Benin | June 4, 2016 – March 1, 2018 |
11 | Jean-Claude Brou | Ivory Coast | March 1, 2018 – July 3, 2022 |
12 | Omar Touray | Gambia | July 3, 2022 – Present |
Who Was The First President Of ECOWAS?
Aboubakar Diaby Ouattara, born on December 25, 1938, in Côte d’Ivoire, was the first Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He served in this role from January 1977 to 1985.
Ouattara was a skilled diplomat, and before joining ECOWAS, he was the Regional Director of the International Bank for West Africa.
When ECOWAS was established in 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos, its main goal was to promote economic integration and cooperation among West African nations.
In December 1976, Côte d’Ivoire nominated Ouattara for the position of Executive Secretary, and he officially began his tenure in January 1977.
During his time in office, he collaborated among member states, reduced trade barriers, and encouraged regional economic integration.
Ouattara also played a part in building the institutional framework of ECOWAS, helping to establish specialized commissions to address various issues such as trade, transport, and energy.
He encouraged collective efforts among member states to address shared challenges in areas like agriculture, infrastructure, and social development.
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Who Is The Current President Of ECOWAS?
The current president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission is Omar Alieu Touray.
He has been serving since July 3, 2022, after being unanimously appointed in October 2021 for the term 2022–2026. Omar Touray is a diplomat from Gambia, born on November 5, 1965.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in literature and linguistics from Ain Shams University in 1987 and completed his Ph.D. in international relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva in 1994.
Early in his career, Omar was a liaison officer for the World Indigenous Organization at the United Nations Office in Geneva and as a consultant at the International Labour Office.
He later joined Gambia’s Ministry of External Affairs and served in several key diplomatic roles, including First Secretary at the Gambian Embassy in Belgium and Counsellor at the same embassy.
From 2002 to 2007, Omar Touray was Gambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, with additional duties as Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
He was also the High Commissioner to South Africa and Kenya. Then, he was appointed Gambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 2007 and later became the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 2008.
After leaving his role in the Gambian government in 2009, Omar worked for the Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia and the Ivory Coast.
