EAC Endorses Amina Mohammed’s Bid for World Trade Organization Director-General

The East African Community (EAC) has endorsed Amina Mohamed’s candidature for the World Trade Organization (WTO) director-general position.

The support for Amina’s bid by EAC member countries was announced by Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, who is the chairperson of the East African Council of Ministers.

Biruta said the endorsement came after a request by Rwanda President Paul Kagame, who is the current Chairman of EAC. EAC is made of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

“Reference is made to the favorable responses received from all the states of the East African Community to the request to support the candidature of the Republic of Kenya for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organization,” Biruta said in a letter addressed to EAC member states.

“I would like to inform you that Ambassador Amina C. Mohamed is endorsed as the candidate of the East African Community for the post of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization.”

Amina is one of the five candidates who progressed to the second round of tests whose results will be made public on Tuesday.

The other four contestants are Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria), Ms. Yoo Myung-hee (South Korea), Mr. Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri (Saudi Arabia), and Dr. Liam Fox (the United Kingdom).

Amina, who currently serves as Cabinet Secretary for Sports, contested for the WTO top seat in 2013 but lost to Brazil’s Roberto Azevêdo a decision made by consensus among member states. 

Amina previously served as Chairperson of all WTO’s highest decision-making bodies including the Ministerial Conference (2015), the General Council (2005), the Dispute Settlement Body (2004), and the Trade Policy Review Body (2004).

WTO director-general is appointed through consensus by the 164 member states and serves for a four-year renewable term. The new director-general will be announced by December.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WTO guides international trade and tries to resolve disputes.