Africa-Press – Liberia. The West African Bar Association (WABA) has announced the resignation of its President, Mr. Ousmane Bouba Traore, and the immediate appointment of Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah as Acting President of the regional legal body.
Mr. Traore, who served a brief term, stepped down citing personal reasons, according to a press release issued by WABA on June 15, 2025. His tenure was marked by efforts to strengthen legal cooperation in the sub-region and to advance the defense of human rights and the rule of law across West Africa.
Following his resignation, WABA confirmed that Vice President Cllr. Varmah will assume the presidency in line with the association’s constitution. The transition was discussed during a virtual meeting of the WABA Executive Committee held on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Cllr. Varmah currently serves as President of the Liberian National Bar Association and is recognized as a leading international trade lawyer within the West African sub-region. His appointment is expected to ensure leadership continuity and reinforce the organization’s commitment to legal professionalism and judicial independence.
“I am honored to assume this responsibility at such a critical juncture,” Cllr. Varmah said during the Executive Committee meeting. “We remain committed to the shared vision of a just, democratic, and peaceful West Africa.”
He thanked Mr. Traore for his leadership and pledged to build on the foundation laid during his term. He emphasized that WABA will continue its mission of promoting the rule of law, safeguarding human rights, and supporting the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the judiciary in West Africa.
“The Executive Committee remains resolute and unshaken in its commitment to ensuring that the association actualizes its objectives,” Cllr. Varmah stated.
WABA has officially notified all national bar associations in the sub-region of the leadership change. The organization also announced that a general meeting of West African bar leaders will be convened in Nigeria at a later date to further deliberate on the way forward.
WABA is a regional body comprising bar associations and legal practitioners across West Africa, working to promote legal cooperation, democratic governance, and human rights in the region.
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