First African woman Secretary General of the Commonwealth

• Shirley Botchway took office as the seventh Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations on 1 April 2025, making her the first African woman to hold the position.

• She replaced Patricia Scotland of Dominica, who was the first woman to be appointed to the position.

• Shirley Botchway was elected for a four-year term during CHOGM 2024 (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in Apia, Samoa.