Senegal has officially nominated Air Force General (2S) Birame Diop, the current Minister of the Armed Forces, as its candidate for the presidency of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In a statement, the Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad indicates that this decision was taken by the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

The application will be submitted at the ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for July 2026.

According to the Senegalese authorities, the choice of General Birame Diop reflects Senegal's desire to provide the sub-region with a figure recognized for his leadership, integrity, command experience, and mastery of issues related to peace, security, governance, and regional integration.

The statement recalls that General Birame Diop has held several prominent positions, including Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

General Diop's career is also marked by a strong international dimension. In particular, he served as military advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the Department of Peace Operations, where he participated in the development and implementation of policies for conflict prevention, peacekeeping and the consolidation of international security.

The Senegalese government also highlights its involvement in training senior African executives through the Center for Strategic Studies for Africa (CESA) as well as its contributions to discussions on peace, development, security and defense issues on the continent.

The press release highlights the research conducted by Birame Diop on security sector reform in sub-Saharan Africa, notably at the National Endowment for Democracy and the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.

He is also credited with creating the African Institute for the Security Sector, which later became Partners Senegal. Through these organizations, he contributed to several strategic capacity-building initiatives and supported security sector reform processes in various African countries.

Senegal displays its confidence

Having received high-level military training acquired in particular at the Royal Air School of Marrakech (Morocco), the Air University of the United States and the War College of Paris, General Birame Diop also pursues academic work in the fields of diplomacy and international relations.

Faced with the security, political and economic challenges facing the region, Senegal believes that its experience, strategic vision and pan-African commitment are major assets to strengthen the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Commission.

The Senegalese government thus affirms its confidence in General Birame Diop's ability to serve with competence, impartiality and dedication the ideals and objectives of the sub-regional organization for the benefit of the West African peoples.