Dédou Hemou Appointed New Secretary-General of ECOWAS Parliament

By Ifeyinwa Ike

Dr. Dédou Hemou, a distinguished Togolese diplomat, has taken office as the new Secretary-General of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He assumed his duties on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Abuja, succeeding K. Bertin Somé, who retired from the position on December 31, 2025.

Dr. Hemou brings extensive experience from within ECOWAS institutions. Since April 2016, he has served as the Permanent Representative of ECOWAS to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. Before that, he held senior leadership roles at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, including Director of External Relations and Director of Political Affairs.

An accomplished diplomat, Dr. Hemou holds a doctorate in Economics and an advanced degree in Strategy and Diplomacy. His appointment is expected to strengthen the Parliament’s diplomatic outreach and regional integration efforts.

ECOWAS officials hailed the transition as seamless, underscoring Dr. Hemou’s deep institutional knowledge and expertise in advancing West Africa’s economic and political agenda.