Diplomatic Baton at the UN: ECOWAS Group Bids Farewell to Fatima Kyari-Mohammed, Welcomes AU’s New Envoy Mohamed Idriss.
By Raymond Enoch.
The ECOWAS Group at the United Nations marked a poignant diplomatic transition during its monthly coordination meeting held on Friday in New York. The gathering, chaired for the first time by H.E. Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu—Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative and newly elected President of the ECOWAS Group—highlighted both regional cooperation and leadership renewal on the international stage.
The meeting covered pressing political, social, and economic developments in West Africa, along with progress on joint action plans and commitments ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), scheduled for 22–30 September 2025.
However, the centerpiece of the day was the heartfelt farewell to H.E. Ambassador Fatima Kyari-Mohammed, the outgoing Permanent Observer of the African Union (AU) to the United Nations. Ambassador Kyari-Mohammed, known for her tireless advocacy and bridge-building diplomacy, was honored in a special dinner hosted by the ECOWAS mission.
In the same spirit of unity, the group formally welcomed H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Idriss, the newly appointed Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN. His arrival signals a continuation of close AU-ECOWAS collaboration in advancing the continent’s shared priorities on peace, security, and sustainable development.
Ambassador Kanu praised both diplomats: “Ambassador Kyari-Mohammed has been a pillar of principled leadership, and we look forward to deepening our work with Ambassador Idriss as we steer West Africa through complex challenges and opportunities on the global stage.”
The evening closed with affirmations of regional solidarity, as ECOWAS continues to strengthen its presence and influence within multilateral frameworks.
