World Trade Organization (WTO) has reappointed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for a second term as director-general.

The decision was finalised on Friday during a special closed-door session of the WTO general council, ensuring her leadership continues until 2029.

The organisation’s 166 members “today agreed to give incumbent Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala a second term as director-general,” the WTO said in a statement.

Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, was the sole candidate for the position.

Her reappointment, achieved by consensus, comes as the organisation braces for potential challenges linked to the possible return of Donald Trump to the US presidency.

African nations called for a fast-tracked reappointment process, officially to allow ample preparation for the WTO’s next major ministerial conference in Cameroon in 2026.

However, insiders told AFP that the true motive was to prevent a repeat of 2020 when Trump’s administration blocked Okonjo-Iweala’s initial appointment, delaying her confirmation until Joe Biden assumed office.

Analysts see the expedited process as a safeguard against potential US opposition that could stall leadership decisions.