President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday congratulated Dr Comfort Ero on her appointment as the President and Chief Executive Officer of International Crisis Group (ICG).
The International Crisis Group said earlier in a statement that Dr Ero, who is currently Africa Programme Director and Interim Vice President of the organisation, assumes office immediately, after an extensive year-long search to fill the position formerly held by Rob Malley, who joined the Biden administration as Special Envoy to Iran in January 2021.
Dr Ero said. in reaction to the appointment that “it’s an honour and a privilege to be leading Crisis Group, an organisation that I’ve always cherished and have held in high regard since its founding in 1995 and which has played a central role in who I am today. Our mandate of preventing conflict and saving lives is a personal one and I am committed to continuing our work of ensuring that perspectives from conflict affected countries are heard.”
Dr Ero has come up through the ranks of Crisis Group, from Project Director to President. She joined the organisation in 2001 as West Africa Project Director (2001-2004) returning in 2011, as Africa Program Director and has served the past 11 months as Interim Vice President. Dr Ero has spent her entire career working in or on conflict-affected countries.
In between her two tenures at Crisis Group, she served as Deputy Africa Program Director for the International Centre for Transitional Justice (2008-2010) and, prior to that, Political Affairs Officer and Policy Advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Mission in Liberia (2004-2007). She has a PhD from the London School of Economics, University of London. Dr Ero is also the Chair of the Board of the Rift Valley Institute and sits on the editorial board of various journals, including International Peacekeeping.
Frank Giustra, Crisis Group’s Board Co-Chair said, “Comfort is an inspiring leader. I’ve long admired how she advocates for Crisis Group’s vital role in saving lives and livelihoods. She has a bold vision for Crisis Group and I look forward to working with her to realise it”.
“At a time when Crisis Group’s impartial analysis and recommendations are needed more than ever, Comfort is the right choice to be our next President & CEO. She has a long track record of convincing policymakers of the human cost of inaction”, said Susana Malcorra, Crisis Group’s Board Co-Chair.
President Buhari, in congratulating Dr Ero, affirms that her appointment to this prestigious position speaks volumes of her track record, professionalism, and distinction in service in an organisation she joined in 2001, rising through the ranks from Project Director to President.
The President notes that over the course of her career, Dr Ero has worked as a strong voice in bringing the challenges of conflict-affected countries to the front burner and her new role presents yet another opportunity for her to do more for humanity.
The President firmly believes in the ability of this shining star to take the International Crisis Group to new and enviable heights in its work of preventing wars and shaping policies that will build a more peaceful world.
