Fifty-eight of the 164 member states of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) members have voiced support for a proposal from the African Group backing incumbent Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to serve a second term.
The 58 member countries announced their support at the WTO General Council meeting on July 22, as reported by the world trade body.
“The African Group requests that the current Director-General make herself available to serve a second term, and has proposed that the process of reappointing the Director-General should be started as soon as possible,” the statement partly read.
“Fifty-eight members, several speaking on behalf of groups of members, took the floor to comment and express their support for the African Group proposal. They called on DG Okonjo-Iweala to make her intentions regarding a second term known as soon as possible. Most of these members praised the DG’s hard work and her achievements during her first term.
Okonjo-Iweala, 70, said she was very grateful for the support from members. “Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together,” she said.
The Director-General stated that she took the members’ call very seriously and was positively inclined. She promised to update them soon regarding her decision.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh WTO Director-General, began her first four-year term on March 1, 2021, which will conclude on August 31, 2025. She is eligible for reappointment.
As the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala faced significant opposition to achieve this role. Prior to her current position, she served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and briefly as Foreign Minister in 2006, making her the first woman to hold both positions.
Her extensive career also includes a 25-year tenure at the World Bank, where she served as Managing Director, Operations.