Bassirou Diomaye Faye has nominated Birame Diop as Senegal’s candidate for the presidency of the Economic Community of West African States Commission.
The announcement was made by Senegal’s Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, with the candidacy set to be presented for approval at the ECOWAS summit of heads of state and government scheduled for July 2026.
The nomination follows ECOWAS’s decision in December 2025 to entrust Senegal with leading the Commission for the 2026–2030 term, giving Dakar the responsibility of proposing the next head of the regional body’s executive branch. Senegalese authorities say General Diop’s extensive military and international experience makes him well suited for the role at a time when the subregion faces significant security, political and institutional challenges.
A former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, former presidential chief of staff and former Air Force chief, he also served at the United Nations as military adviser to the Secretary-General on peace operations.
The nomination comes as Senegal is also expected to assume the rotating presidency of ECOWAS in the coming weeks, potentially increasing its influence within the regional bloc as it navigates security concerns in the Sahel and evolving relations with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
