This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
July 10, 2020 - President Uhuru Kenyatta's efforts to secure a top international trade post for Sports CS Amina Mohammed have been underway for some time. In February 2017, he dispatched a team of diplomats across the continent to seek support for her African Union Chair post bid.
Speaking on the matter, President Kenyatta emphasized the need for a strong and representative leadership at the World Trade Organization (WTO). 'As a firm believer in the strengthening of international multilateral institutions, Kenya is convinced of the urgent need to revitalize the WTO to better serve the needs of all nations, large and small. We also believe that it is time that Africa took up her responsibility of serving at the helm of WTO,' he said.
CS Amina Mohammed's candidacy for the WTO Director General post is seen as a natural fit, given her extensive experience in international trade and her chairmanship of various high-level decision-making bodies within the WTO. If selected, she would be the first African and first woman to hold the position.
The WTO Director General post is currently vacant, with six candidates from Egypt, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, Nigeria, and South Korea vying for the position. The outgoing Director General, Roberto Azevedo, is stepping down a year early at the end of August.
