This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
Published on July 9, 2020, Kenya has nominated Sports CS Amb. Amina Mohamed to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO) as its Director-General.
Amb. Amina will face stiff competition from five other candidates, including two Africans: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and Mr. Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt.
The other contenders for the position are Mr. Jesús Seade Kuri of Mexico, Mr. Tudor Ulianovschi of Moldova, and Ms. Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea.
The WTO Director-General is appointed through consensus among member states, requiring candidates to engage in intensive lobbying for the position.
According to WTO rules, the appointment process takes several months and concludes with a meeting of the General Council, convened not later than three months prior to the expiry of an incumbent's term.
The Director-General serves a four-year term and is eligible for reappointment for another term not exceeding four years.
Amb. Amina has a wealth of experience in international relations, having previously served as Chairperson of all WTO's highest decision-making bodies, including the Ministerial Conference in 2015, the General Council in 2005, the Dispute Settlement Body in 2004, and the Trade Policy Review Body in 2004.
She previously contested for the WTO Director-General post in 2013 but was unsuccessful.
