• Thursday, April 18, 2024
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Gambia’s ex-vice president nominated for AU Commission deputy chairperson

Fatoumata CM Jallow Tambajang

Republic of The Gambia has named former vice president, Fatoumata CM Jallow Tambajang, as the nation’s candidate for the deputy chairperson position of the African Union Commission (AUC), according to the Gambian presidency.

She has also secured the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Next month, leaders of the African Union (AU) member nations will meet at an ordinary summit to elect a new Commission, the body’s secretariat, to run the organisation for the next four years.

Tambajang has played a prominent role in national and continent-wide platforms, with a career spanning over 35 years, including service with the United Nations and to her country as a policy adviser, minister and eventually, vice president of the Republic. In her time at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), her work focused on international development management, gender, policy, and training.

As part of the Gambian government, she served in several capacities including as Policy Adviser on Women for three successive presidents, minister of health, social welfare and women’s affairs, before becoming vice president.

Her career has seen her recognised with several awards including the Member of the Republic of Gambia, MRG, (1994) and Eminent Person of the OAU (1990) for her exemplary leadership in championing the cause of women. She was also the architect of ‘Coalition 2016,’ bringing together eight political parties to uproot Gambia’s 22-year dictatorship.

She plans to pursue an aggressive forward-looking agenda if elected to the position. She will look to accelerate the adoption and execution of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the body’s institutional reform goals to assist in the AU’s pursuit of tackling challenges facing the continent and its people.