The ECOWAS Resident Representative Office in Mali held a handover ceremony on February 28, 2025, marking the conclusion of Mr. Mário Gomes Fernandes’ mandate as Resident Representative. Mr. Fernandes was appointed to this position in Mali in September 2022 after serving in a similar capacity in the Republic of Guinea.
During the event, Mr. Funsho Oladele Ibrahim, Political Advisor and Chargé d’Affaires a.i., spoke on behalf of the staff to express their gratitude towards Mr. Fernandes. He highlighted several achievements under Mr. Fernandes’ leadership, including improved working conditions for staff, enhanced capacity development for civil society organizations, and increased visibility for ECOWAS initiatives. Additionally, he noted the strengthened cooperative relations between ECOWAS and Malian authorities.
Mr. Mário Gomes Fernandes expressed his satisfaction with contributing to better professional conditions for staff and thanked them for their commitment to achieving tangible results. He also mentioned efforts to strengthen civil society organizations and promote ECOWAS achievements among the local population through effective communication strategies.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Fernandes extended his best wishes for prosperity to the Malian people and called for lasting harmony among the nations within the regional community.
