Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO), has officially announced her intention to seek a second four-year term as Director-General when her current mandate ends in August 2025. The announcement was confirmed by her spokesman, Ismaila Dieng, who cited broad-based support from member states as a key factor in her decision.
“We can confirm that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has officially announced her intention to seek a second term as Director-General of the WTO,” Dieng said. He noted that Okonjo-Iweala had been encouraged by “the overwhelming and broad-based support expressed by members.”
Okonjo-Iweala formally communicated her decision to the WTO’s chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, on Monday. At the same meeting, the WTO’s African Group requested that she be made available for a second term, and proposed that the reappointment process begin as soon as possible. To date, no other candidates have come forward to challenge her for the position.
Fifty-eight of the WTO’s 164 member countries have already expressed their support for Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment. In a statement released by the WTO after a General Council meeting in July, members praised her leadership and called on her to announce her intentions regarding a second term. Many of these members lauded her for reinvigorating the organization, which has faced criticism in recent years for being slow and ineffective in addressing global trade issues.
“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 WTO statement read.
Okonjo-Iweala, 70, expressed gratitude for the support from WTO members, noting that any successes during her tenure were the result of collective effort. “Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together,” she said.
Since taking office in March 2021, Okonjo-Iweala has focused on revitalizing the WTO, addressing long-standing challenges in global trade, and navigating the organization through difficult periods, including the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a second term, she hopes to build on the progress made and continue pushing for reforms that will make the WTO more efficient and responsive to global trade needs.
