AFRICAN REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION Creating a better world for workers in Africa and beyond

Former ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder has been elected to the top post of the International Labour Organisation. He will take over from incumbent Juan Somavia, who leaves the post in September after 13 years at the helm of the UN agency.

There were three African candidates; from Benin: Dan Charles, current Regional Director for Africa, from Senegal: Assane Diop current Executive Director in charge of Social Welfare, from Niger: Ibrahima Mayaki.

After six rounds the former Secretary General of the ITUC had 30 votes against 26 for Mr. Gilles de Robien, French former minister of labor.
The new director will take service in October.
This is the first time since it’s creation in 1919 that a member of the workers’ family takes the reins of this organization, one that brings together three groups of the working world:government, employers and workers. He thus becomes the tenth director.