Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has announced her intention to seek reappointment for a second four-year term.
The former Nigerian finance minister, who became the WTO’s first female and African leader in March 2021, made the announcement in an interview with Reuters on Monday.
Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is set to expire on August 31, 2025. In her statement, she expressed a desire to continue her work, citing “unfinished business” from her first mandate.
She said, “I would like to be part of this chapter of the WTO story, and I stand ready to compete for the position,” Okonjo-Iweala said, citing a letter she plans to send to the trade body’s main decision-making body. “For my second term, I intend to focus on delivering,” she added, saying among the priorities was addressing “unfinished business”.
She mentioned that the key priorities for her second term include finalizing a deal on fisheries subsidies, advancing global agriculture negotiations, reforming the WTO’s dispute resolution system, and promoting trade decarbonization.
“We can confirm that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has officially announced her intention to seek a second term as Director-General of the WTO,” said WTO spokesman Ismaila Dieng. Dieng noted that Okonjo-Iweala had received “overwhelming and broad-based support” from member states.
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Okonjo-Iweala’s intention to run for a second term was formally communicated to WTO chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, on Monday. The WTO’s African Group has formally requested that she make herself available for re-nomination and proposed that the process begin promptly.
Currently, no other candidates have announced their intention to run. Officially, Okonjo-Iweala has until the end of November to finalize her application. The early push by the African-led initiative, which began in July, is seen as a strategic move to secure her reappointment before the U.S. presidential election in November.
The WTO operates on a consensus basis, meaning her reappointment could proceed smoothly if no other candidates emerge and all member states support her.
During her tenure, Okonjo-Iweala has been instrumental in securing significant global trade deals, including a landmark agreement on reducing fishing subsidies in 2022. Her leadership has been marked by efforts to navigate complex geopolitical tensions among the WTO’s 166 members.
Reflecting on her role, Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged the challenges of the position. “It is tough, you know, very tough. There’s no getting away from that. But it’s also a job that makes me want to get out of bed in the morning,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala’s tenure has seen notable successes, including securing U.S. backing after former President Donald Trump’s administration initially blocked her appointment. With the support of President Joe Biden, her leadership has garnered international acclaim and support.
As she prepares for a potential second term, Okonjo-Iweala remains focused on driving forward her agenda despite the challenges posed by the global trade landscape.
