Fatoumata Tambajang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fatoumata Tambajang
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Tambajang in 2017
|
|
| 8th Vice-President of the Gambia | |
| In office 9 November 2017 – 29 June 2018 Acting: 23 January 2017 – 9 November 2017 |
|
| President | Adama Barrow |
| Preceded by | Isatou Njie-Saidy |
| Succeeded by | Ousainou Darboe |
| Minister of Women's Affairs | |
| In office 22 February 2017 – 29 June 2018 |
|
| President | Adama Barrow |
| Preceded by | Isatou Njie-Saidy (as Secretary) |
| Succeeded by | Ousainou Darboe |
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare | |
| In office 1994–1995 |
|
| President | Yahya Jammeh |
| Preceded by | Landing J. Sonko |
| Succeeded by | Nyimasata Sanneh-Bojang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 October 1949 Brikama, the Gambia |
| Citizenship | Gambian |
| Political party | UDP |
| Other political affiliations |
Coalition 2016 |
| Children | 8 |
| Alma mater | University of Nice Sophia Antipolis |
| Ethnicity | Fula |
Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang, born on October 22, 1949, is a well-known Gambian politician and activist. She served as the Vice-President of the Gambia and Minister of Women's Affairs from February 2017 to June 2018. She worked under President Adama Barrow.
Earlier in her career, she led the Gambia National Women's Council. She also advised Dawda Jawara, who was the first President of The Gambia after it became independent from British rule. After a military takeover in July 1994, which removed the Jawara government, she became the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare from 1994 to 1995.
President Barrow chose her to be Vice-President in January 2017. However, there was a rule about the age limit for this role. So, she first became the Minister of Women's Affairs, overseeing the Vice-President's office. Once the age rule was changed, she was officially sworn in as Vice-President in November 2017. Before this, she was the leader of Coalition 2016. This was a group of opposition political parties that supported Adama Barrow in the 2016 presidential election.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Fatoumata Tambajang was born in Brikama, a town in the Gambia. She went to school in The Gambia, Dakar (Senegal), and France. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in France.
Political Journey
Tambajang advised Dawda Jawara, The Gambia's first President, on important issues for women and children. She was the head of the Gambia National Women's Council. She also represented this council in the Gambia National Economic and Social Council for six years.
From 1994 to 1995, Tambajang worked as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare. She was one of only two women ministers in the government at that time. She spoke for The Gambia at a big international conference on population and development in September 1994. After this, she worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She spent five years working on development in areas affected by war, like the Mano River region. In 2001, while working in the African Great Lakes area, she was caught in a dangerous situation with rebels.
Tambajang joined the United Democratic Party (UDP) in April 2015. She was a very important member and leader of Coalition 2016. This group of political parties worked together to support Adama Barrow in the 2016 Gambian presidential election. After President Yahya Jammeh lost the election, Tambajang stated that he would face consequences. She also announced plans to create a special group to get back money that was believed to have been lost due to corruption during Jammeh's time in power.
Becoming Vice-President
After Adama Barrow became President on January 19, 2017, it was announced on January 23 that Tambajang would be his Vice-President. However, there was a rule in The Gambia's constitution that said the Vice-President could not be older than 65. Tambajang was reported to be 67 at the time. Because of this, she was not sworn in right away. She said she was actually 64 years old. President Barrow asked for proof if anyone thought she was older than 65.
In February, she was appointed as Minister of Women's Affairs. In this role, she oversaw the Vice-President's office. On February 28, 2017, the National Assembly tried to change the constitution to remove the age limit. However, the correct steps were not followed, and it took several more months to properly change the rule.
The age limit rule was finally removed by the National Assembly on July 25. Her appointment as Vice-President was confirmed by the President on September 8. President Barrow officially appointed her as Vice-President on November 9, 2017.
Her Time as Vice-President
In April 2017, Tambajang received the 'New African Woman of the Year Award' from New African Woman Magazine. In March 2017, she joined an important committee for the Crans Montana African Women's Forum, which supports women. In a government change on June 29, 2018, Tambajang was moved to a new role working with other countries.
Personal Life
Fatoumata Tambajang belongs to the Fula ethnic group. She lives in the Kanifing District of The Gambia. She is a mother of eight children.
See also
In Spanish: Fatoumata Tambajang para niños
