Yamousoukro-Cote d'Ivoire — Ambassador Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo was on Friday 29th June, 2012 in Yamoussoukro, Côte-d'Ivoire, formally sworn in as President of the ECOWAS Commission during the opening ceremony of the 41st Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. The oath of office was administered by the President of the Community Court of Justice, Honourable Awa Nana Daboya.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Ambassador Ouédraogo, who assumed duties on 1st March 2012, was formally invested by the Chairman of the Authority, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire, who noted that his competences in International Relations, Economics and Politics are major assets that will help steer the Community to great achievements during his four-year tenure.
In his acceptance speech, Ambassador Ouédraogo pledged to serve the Community truthfully and faithfully, and to discharge his functions with determination, discretion, efficiency, and in line with the regulations. He committed to work for regional peace and security which are critical preconditions for the pursuit of the organisation's socio-economic development agenda. He also promised to deepen the regional integration process and the realization of the Community's noble ideals. "Stability cannot be achieved without respect for the principles of democracy, good governance and respect for the human rights and universal values. We must therefore endeavour to entrench the democratic culture in our region," Ambassador Ouédraogo affirmed. He added: "It is unacceptable that in the 21st Century, we still experience Coups d'Etat and access to power through unconstitutional means.
The people have the right to respect for their constitution and to freely elect their leaders." Ambassador Ouédraogo appealed for the full support of the Commission's new management team and the entire staff to ensure that ECOWAS fulfilled its mandate and achieved its goals. He was appointed President of the Commission by the 40th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in February 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria to replace Ambassador James Victor Gbeho. A former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso (1996-2000), Ambassador Ouédraogo is an experienced diplomat, financial expert and economist.
Prior to his latest appointment, he was Burkina Faso's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Belgium with concurrent accreditation to six other European countries. He also served as his country's Permanent Representative to the European Union Commission, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the World Customs Organisation. Ambassador Ouédraogo also served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO) based in Dakar, Senegal, from 1993 to 1996 and was elected Member of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso in 1997.
Before his tenure as Prime Minister, he held the position of ECOWAS Deputy Executive Secretary responsible for Economic Affairs from 1985 to 1993. In 1996, he received the award of Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit of Burkina Faso.
