Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé facts for kids

Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé (born January 4, 1948 – died November 6, 2021) was an important politician from Mali. She made history by becoming the first female Prime Minister of Mali. A Prime Minister is like the head of the government, working with the president to lead the country. She was in this role when a big change in government happened in 2012.

Early Life and Career

Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé was born in Timbuktu, Mali, on January 4, 1948. She later added her husband's family name, Cissé, to her own. She went to primary school in Goundam and finished high school in 1970. After that, she earned a degree in Civil Administration from the Malian National School for Administration in Bamako.

From 1974 to 1989, Sidibé Cissé worked for the government in a department that looked after state-owned companies. She even became an assistant to the Minister in 1987. During these years, she also studied at universities in West Africa, France, Canada, Belgium, and Italy.

When Mali returned to a democratic government in 1991, Sidibé Cissé became a special advisor to the President. She also served as the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. For a short time in 1992, she was also the Minister of Agriculture. From 1993 to 2000, she worked as the Executive Secretary for an international group called the Interstate Committee on the Fight Against Desertification in the Sahel (Cilss). This group helps countries in the Sahel region fight against dry land and desert growth.

In 2001, she again became a special advisor to the President. From March to June 2002, she was appointed Minister of Rural Development. In 2003, she became the head of the board for Mali's national tobacco company, SONTAM.

Becoming Prime Minister

On March 30, 2011, the President of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, announced that the current Prime Minister was stepping down. On April 3, Sidibé Cissé was officially named the new Prime Minister. This was a very important moment because she was the first woman ever to hold this high position in Mali. She was the second Prime Minister during President Touré's second term.

Many people saw her appointment as a positive step for women in Mali. The President's office said that Sidibé Cissé and the President were "old friends." Even though she hadn't been very involved in politics recently, her appointment was seen as a way to bring fresh ideas and carry out government improvements that the President had promised.

Some newspapers in Mali talked about how important it was to have a female Prime Minister. One editor suggested that choosing a woman for the role was a way to connect with female voters. This was especially meaningful in a country that was still debating women's rights, like a proposed law in 2009 that aimed to improve women's rights but faced strong opposition.

Leaving Office

On March 22, 2012, soldiers who were unhappy with how the government was handling a rebellion took control of the country. This event is called a coup d'état. Because of this change in government, Sidibé Cissé was removed from her position as Prime Minister. She and other government officials were held for a short time after the coup.

International Work

Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé also played important roles on the international stage. On May 26, 2011, she was a main speaker at an event for UNESCO's Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education. This partnership helps girls and women around the world get a better education.

As Prime Minister, she welcomed leaders from other countries, like Prince Albert II of Monaco, who visited Mali in February 2012. Later, in November 2015, she was named an ambassador for the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) at a big climate change meeting in Paris called COP21. This shows her dedication to important global issues.

Personal Life

Sidibé Cissé was married and had four children. She passed away on November 6, 2021, at the age of 73.

See also

In Spanish: Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé para niños