Senegal proposes General Birame Diop to chair ECOWAS Commission
via SeneNews1 min read
The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government summit begins on July 19 in Lungi, Sierra Leone, addressing significant security, political, and economic challenges in the sub-region. Senegal has proposed General Birame Diop, former Minister of Armed Forces under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to chair the ECOWAS Commission. He is currently the sole candidate to lead the executive body. If confirmed, his appointment would be a significant step for Senegalese diplomacy and place a Senegalese national at the helm of an institution guiding ECOWAS's direction in a complex regional context. The summit follows a week of preparatory meetings involving experts, high-ranking officials, and ministers from member states. Beyond the Commission president's appointment, leaders will discuss strengthening regional security against terrorism, consolidating democratic governance, and accelerating economic integration and free movement within the community.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
The latest FIFA rankings, released after the 2026 World Cup, show significant changes for several national teams. Spain has climbed to the number one position, displacing Argentina, which is now second. France remains in third place, and England holds fourth. Brazil moved up one spot to fifth, while Portugal dropped two places to seventh. Belgium and the Netherlands swapped positions, with Belgium now eighth and the Netherlands ninth. In Africa, Morocco advanced one place to sixth, solidifying its status as the top African team following a strong performance that saw them reach the quarterfinals. Conversely, Senegal experienced a notable decline, falling three places to 18th, putting them outside the top 15 globally. This drop is attributed to their performance in the North American World Cup, which did not meet expectations. Mexico, a co-host, made a significant jump of four places, re-entering the top 10 at tenth. Other notable movements include Colombia gaining two places, while Germany and Croatia each fell two spots. Switzerland saw one of the biggest gains, moving up five places to 14th, just ahead of Italy, which dropped three places to 15th. The most dramatic rise was Norway, which surged twelve places to 19th, entering the top 20. Uruguay, on the other hand, fell four places to 20th. For Senegal, this decline in the rankings serves as a warning ahead of upcoming continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations.
Lamine Yamal, at 19 years old, has recorded 26 goals and 21 assists this season, solidifying his position as La Liga's top assister and a serious candidate for the upcoming Ballon d'Or. Despite a World Cup deemed "disappointing" by some, his club, Barcelona, secured its second consecutive Spanish championship. Last season, 2024-2025, Yamal finished with 18 goals and approximately 25 assists across all competitions, winning a La Liga title, a Spanish Super Cup, and a Copa del Rey, before being a finalist in the Nations League with Spain. This performance earned him second place in the 2025 Ballon d'Or, making him the youngest player to reach the podium, surpassing Eus茅bio, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi at the same age. For the 2025-2026 season, his statistics have improved further: 26 goals and 21 assists across all competitions, another Spanish championship title, a new Super Cup, and the award for La Liga's best player for 2025-2026. In La Liga alone, he was the top assister with 11 to 12 assists and scored his first career hat-trick against Villarreal in late February, becoming the youngest player of the 21st century to achieve this feat in La Liga. His direct goal contributions place him above the 98th percentile of attackers in the league. Additionally, Spain won the 2026 World Cup, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final, adding a global title to his resume which already included the Euro 2024. Although some considered his World Cup performance "disappointing" with on
Must ReadDozens of people are missing and presumed dead after a boat capsized in Jigawa State, northwestern Nigeria, according to police and rescue services. The accident, which occurred on Sunday, has led to concerns about maritime safety during extreme weather conditions. Police spokesperson Shi'isu Adam reported that up to 40 people, including women and children, drowned while crossing a river. One body was recovered on Sunday, and five more were found on Monday morning. The National Emergency Management Agency NEMA reported a lower toll, with five confirmed deaths, 20 people missing, and 15 passengers rescued. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. Jigawa State, like several others in Nigeria, is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season, which typically runs from May to November, making river navigation dangerous. Boat accidents are common in Nigeria, often attributed to vessel overload, excessive speed, poor maintenance, and disregard for navigation rules. In October, 26 people died in a boat accident on the Niger River in Kogi State, and in September, a boat capsized in Niger State, killing at least 32 people. Climate change is exacerbating monsoon variations across the continent, leading to an increase in natural disasters that threaten millions of inhabitants and compromise food security.