Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, has officially entered the race to become the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, according to reports from The Africa Daily Post.
The Secretary-General is the chief administrator of the Commonwealth, a multinational organization with 54 member states, most of which have historical ties to Britain. The position is filled through an appointment by Commonwealth leaders, with a maximum term of eight years.
If elected, Dr. Tangara would become only the second African to lead the organization, following in the footsteps of Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria who served from 1990 to 2000. Currently, the position is held by Baroness Patricia Scotland, a national of Dominica and the first woman to hold the role.
Dr. Tangara faces competition from other candidates vying for the coveted position. Joshua Setipa from Lesotho and Shirley Botchwey from Ghana have also declared their candidacy. Securing the role will require Dr. Tangara to garner significant support from fellow Commonwealth nations, including regional powerhouse Nigeria.