Wamkele Keabetswe Mene

Wamkele Keabetswe Mene
Nationality	South African
Alma mater	Rhodes University London School of Economics and Political Science
Office	1st Secretary General of The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat
Spouse	Malika Hinkson Mene

Wamkele Mene is the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.[1] In February 2020, he was elected as the first Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.[2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

Wamkele was born and raised in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape Province. He attended Marymount High School, before changing schools and enrolled at Trinity High School.[6] He graduated with a B.A Law from the Rhodes University. He obtained an M.A. in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental & African Studies and an LL.M in Banking Law and Financial Regulation from the London School of Economics and Political Science.[7][8]

Career

He previously served as the Head of Mission to the World Trade Organisation for South Africa.[9][10] Wamkele later Chaired the Committee on International Trade in Financial Services at the World Trade Organisation.[11] He was the Chief Director for Africa Economic Relations in South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry and South Africa's lead negotiator in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.[12][13][14]

Personal life

Wamkele is married to Malika Hinkson Mene.

References

1. "First Secretary General of AfCFTA Secretariat sworn in". www.classfmonline.com. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
2. "Ghana congratulates AfCFTA's first Secretary-General". MyJoyOnline.com. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
3. "South Africa wins bitter fight with Nigeria over top AU job". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
4. "Statement of H.E. Mr. Wamkele Mene on the Occasion of Swearing-in as the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat | African Union". au.int. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
5. "South Africa's Wamkele Mene voted as Secretary-General of AfCFTA Secretariat". Citi Business News. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
6. "Uitenhage man lands leading role in AU trade agreement structure". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
7. "Meet the forty-year-old South African voted as the first Secretary-General of AfCFTA". ABC News Ghana. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
8. Tsanni, Abdullahi (20 February 2020). "Wamkele Mene: The young South African diplomat to drive AfCFTA's implementation". African Newspage. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
9. "South Africa's Wamkele Mene voted as Secretary-General of AfCFTA Secretariat". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
10. "Wamkele Mene". The AFRICA CEO FORUM 2020 (in French). Retrieved 26 March 2020.
11. "South Africa's Wamkele Mene Elected To Lead World's Largest Free Trade Area, AfCFTA". Espact. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
12. "COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area agreement: ratification | PMG". pmg.org.za. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
13. "AfCFTA Elects Wamkele Mene as Secretary General". Kenyan Wallstreet. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
14. "Wamkele Mene". SAITEX Africa. Retrieved 26 March 2020.