The World Trade Organization (WTO), headquartered in Geneva, officially opened its 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, bringing together approximately 3,000 delegates from around the world. The conference runs from 26 to 29 March at the Yaoundé Conference Centre.
Sierra Leone’s delegation is led by Trade and Industry Minister Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, accompanied by the country’s Permanent Representative to the WTO, Ambassador Dr. Lansana Gberie. The conference is chaired by Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana.
The opening ceremony featured senior state officials, including the Prime Minister of Cameroon and the Vice President of The Gambia, along with vibrant cultural performances by traditional dance troupes.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, delegates face significant challenges within the multilateral trading system. Key issues under discussion include WTO reform, agriculture, e-commerce, dispute settlement, and the principle of consensus-based decision-making. Ahead of the conference, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer criticized the WTO as representing “a status quo that has become economically unworkable and politically unacceptable,” highlighting tensions within the global trade architecture.
At a pre-conference meeting, Minister Sesay, who currently chairs the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade, emphasized the importance of unity and coordinated engagement among African countries. “Our positions are anchored on the Maputo Declaration, Agenda 2063, and ECOWAS Vision 2050. These frameworks define our shared ambition for inclusive growth, structural transformation, and sustainable development,” he stated.
He outlined key priorities for African countries, including cohesive ECOWAS positions on WTO reform and dispute settlement, implementation of Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT), advancing negotiations on agriculture, food security, and fisheries subsidies (Phase II), addressing issues related to LDC graduation and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), maintaining clarity on the e-commerce moratorium and African Union observer status.
Minister Sesay reinforced these priorities during meetings with LDC Trade Ministers, calling for alignment and coordinated advocacy among developing countries. His call for unity received strong endorsement from regional ministers, including representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and The Gambia, who also commended the ECOWAS Commission for its leadership in coordinating regional positions ahead of MC14.
In her opening remarks, WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that while the global trading system must adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape, the WTO remains indispensable for fostering inclusive and rules-based trade.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for advancing critical discussions on trade reform, sustainable development, and the role of developing countries in shaping the future of global trade.