Abuja: Dr Kalilou SYLLA has assumed the role of Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, succeeding Commissioner Massandje Toure-Litse. A citizen of Côte d’Ivoire, Dr SYLLA holds a PhD in Economics from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan and has been an educator there since 1997. He began his new role on October 1, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, as Ms Toure-Litse has moved on to other high responsibilities in her home country.
According to African Press Organization, prior to this appointment, Dr SYLLA amassed 27 years of professional experience, serving as Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire. There, he was responsible for coordinating foreign trade policy and leading trade agreement negotiations, including at the World Trade Organization. His efforts also extended to mobilizing support for private sector stakeholders on foreign trade issues and advancing the digitalization of the sector.
Dr SYLLA’s past roles include serving as Chief of Staff at the Ministry for African Integration, where he managed negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements and fostered relationships with regional organizations such as ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS, and the African Union.
In his new position at the ECOWAS Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr SYLLA’s primary mission will be to enhance economic and food resilience across West Africa. He aims to speed up agricultural transformation, promote food security, stimulate regional trade, and bolster the competitiveness of ECOWAS economies amidst global crises and geopolitical shifts.
Dr SYLLA is also an accomplished author with several publications to his name, including works on corruption, socio-economic impacts of conflict, and development pathways for West Africa. His accolades include the Officer of the Ivorian Order of Merit distinction in 2019 and the CODESRIA Prize for Research on Civil Society and AIDS in 2003. Dr SYLLA is proficient in French and English and has a basic understanding of Portuguese and Spanish.