President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, at the State House in Abuja. The meeting took place weeks before the Gambian diplomat is expected to hand over leadership of the regional bloc’s executive arm.
Touray arrived at the Presidential Villa alongside the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye. However, officials did not disclose details of the closed-door meeting.
Touray visits Presidential Villa
Photographs released by the State House media office showed President Tinubu welcoming Touray during the visit. Although neither side revealed the agenda, the meeting comes as the ECOWAS Commission prepares for a change in leadership. Meanwhile, Touray is nearing the end of his four-year tenure as President of the Commission.
Touray’s tenure at ECOWAS
Touray assumed office on July 3, 2022, after the Government of The Gambia nominated him unanimously. The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government later endorsed his appointment for the 2022–2026 term. He succeeded Ivorian diplomat Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, who led the Commission from 2018.
Diplomatic career before ECOWAS
Before joining the ECOWAS Commission, Touray served as The Gambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He also held the position of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under former President Yahya Jammeh. However, authorities dismissed him from that role in September 2009.
Experience beyond government service
After leaving government, Touray worked with the Islamic Development Bank. He later returned to diplomatic service before assuming leadership of the ECOWAS Commission. According to official records, his tenure at ECOWAS will conclude after the regional bloc completes its leadership transition in the coming weeks.
Meeting comes ahead of leadership transition
Although the Presidency has not released details of Thursday’s discussions, the meeting comes at a significant period for ECOWAS. The regional organisation is preparing for a leadership handover as Touray concludes his tenure after four years in office. The visit also highlights ongoing diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the ECOWAS Commission as the transition approaches.
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