EAC bloc backs Kenya’s Amina Mohamed for WTO post

The six-member East African Community bloc has thrown its weight behind Kenya’s Amina Mohamed to head the World Trade Organisation raising her chances of securing a win as the race enters the final stretch.

Vincent Biruta, the current chairman of the East African Council of Ministers confirmed Sunday all the six members of the EAC had agreed to support Mohamed following a request from Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

“Reference is made to the favourable responses received from all states of the East African Community on the…request to support the candidature of the Republic of Kenya to the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. I would like to inform you that the Ambassador Amina C. Mohamed is endorsed as the candidate of the East African Community to the post of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation,” Biruta said in a letter addressed to the six countries.

The WTO will announce Tuesday the shortlist of two contenders for the final round of the race. Mohamed who is the current sports minister is competing with  Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria,  Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of Saudi Arabia, and Dr. Liam Fox of the United Kingdom.

The EAC is comprised of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, and Rwanda.

A new director-general will be announced in December.