Abuja 8th April 2016

His Excellency Marcel Alain De Souza, a super economist and bureaucrat on the 8th of April 2016 assumed duties as the new president of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

De Souza was born on 20th of October 1953 at Pobè in the Republic of Benin. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Dakar as well as a specialised Master’s Degree in Management and Banking at the West African Training Centre for Banking Studies (COFEB) completing his training at the IMF Institute in Washington.

Mr. de Souza was formerly the Internal Controller at Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest- Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) head office in Cotonou. He rose to become national Director and Director of Administration at the bank headquarters in Dakar.

President de Souza had also served as Head of Department of Economic and Financial Affairs in the Office of the President of the Republic of Benin before he was appointed as Special Adviser to the President of the Republic of Benin on Monetary and Banking Affairs and later the minister for Development, Economic Analysis and Forecast from 28 May 2011 to 15 June 2015.

Prior to his appointment as the President of the ECOWAS Commission, he has been a Member of Parliament of the Benin National Assembly since June 2015.

Mr. de SOUZA is fluent in French and has knowledge of English and German. He is married with 7 children