Dr Kalilou Sylla, who has served as the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture since 1 October 2025, has established himself as a key figure in development policy in West Africa. With a distinguished career spanning macroeconomic expertise, regional integration and agricultural reform, he embodies the ambition for sustainable transformation in a challenging economic climate.
Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS since 1 October 2025, Dr Kalilou Sylla embodies the profile of a seasoned technocrat called upon to play a central role in the economic transformation of West Africa. His appointment comes at a time marked by tensions in agricultural markets, persistent inflation and growing food insecurity. Beyond this strategic position, it is an entire career built around development economics, regional integration and public policy that underpins his legitimacy today.
Regional integration, exemplified by agreements within ECOWAS, means a young Ivorian engineer can now easily work in Nigeria. This highlights the vast and long-term solutions required to address the most critical question: How do we feed the world? This is particularly urgent in West Africa, which already has over 300 million inhabitants. By 2050, Nigeria alone is projected to reach 400 million people—roughly the combined population of Europe and the United States today. Feeding this massive population must be central to our economic and educational agendas, not a peripheral concern. The key question that needs to be addressed is how young people perceive their role in this central challenge.
Kalilou SYLLA, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture – Côte d’Ivoire
An economist by training, holding a PhD in economics from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Kalilou Sylla has specialised in macroeconomic, trade and agricultural policies. His expertise was developed within regional and international institutions, where he held several technical and strategic positions. He notably distinguished himself in the design of development programmes aimed at strengthening African economies, improving economic governance and promoting regional integration. Through his various responsibilities, he has acquired solid experience in strategic planning, public policy analysis and the coordination of complex projects at the sub-regional level.
I believe that if economic sciences did not exist, I would create them myself. Because it is something that speaks to me deeply — it is part of who I am. What I do, what I enjoy in this career, is that we constantly refine it. I studied economics at school. Today, I speak about people’s education. I work across different areas — employment, agriculture, the private sector. But at the beginning, it was all about agricultural self-sufficiency.
Kalilou SYLLA, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture – Côte d’Ivoire
Before his appointment as Commissioner, he held key positions within structures linked to economic cooperation in West Africa, notably as Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as Chief of Staff at the Ministry of African Integration. In these roles, he actively contributed to the implementation of reforms aimed at boosting intra-regional trade and removing barriers to the free movement of goods and people. His work also focused on strengthening the competitiveness of agricultural sectors, with particular emphasis on value chains, productivity and resilience to external shocks. This professional trajectory has enabled him to develop a comprehensive vision of economic challenges, at the crossroads of national policies and regional dynamics.
Agricultural economics is a crucially important and highly relevant field that is currently underdeveloped. At its core, agricultural economics is intrinsically linked to agribusiness, prompting fundamental questions about global positioning and shaping international governance. Considering that the world’s wealthiest individuals, such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, are significantly investing in agricultural economics, its importance becomes clear. This focus reflects the major global concern that food scarcity could become a critical issue within the next 50 years, making agriculture a central pillar of today’s most pressing world questions.
Kalilou SYLLA, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture – Côte d’Ivoire
Recognised for his analytical rigour and mastery of development issues, Kalilou Sylla now stands out as a key figure in driving structural reforms within the ECOWAS. His career, marked by diverse experience and specialised expertise, positions him as a driving force behind the economic and agricultural transformation of the sub-region.
