ECOWAS commissioner joins Madrid graduation ceremony, strengthens diplomatic ties with Spain

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, was in Madrid on June 9, 2025, to attend the graduation ceremony of the sixth cohort of the Master’s programme in Diplomacy and International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of Madrid.

The event marked a significant milestone for the ECOWAS-Spain Scholarship initiative—a strategic partnership designed to empower young diplomats from ECOWAS member states with world-class training in diplomacy and international affairs.

Professor Sarr was joined by Dr. Roland Kouakou, Acting Director and Programme Coordinator at ECOWAS, underscoring the regional body’s commitment to capacity building and international cooperation.

While in Madrid, Prof. Sarr held high-level bilateral meetings aimed at deepening developmental and diplomatic ties between West Africa and Spain. She met with His Excellency Mr. Diego Martínez-Belío, Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, and Ms. Ximena Sartori Mana, Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Cooperation Department at AECID (Spanish Agency for the Development of International Cooperation).

These meetings focused on reviewing existing programmes and exploring new opportunities to strengthen the ECOWAS-Spain partnership particularly in areas of youth empowerment, human development, and regional diplomacy.