Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé
Encyclopedia
Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé (born 4 January 1948) is a Malian politician and the current incumbent prime minister of the country, the first woman to be appointed to the position in Mali's history. She was announced to the position by decree on 3 April 2011, replacing Modibo Sidibé
.
, Mali on 4 January 1948. Her family name is Sidibé but she later took her husband's family name Cissé as well. Sidibé Cissé was educated at a Goundam
primary school, and later received her baccalauréat in 1970. From there she received a degree in Civil Administration from the Malian National School for Administration (EDA) in Bamako.
From 1974 to 1989 Sidibé Cissé worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Oversight for State Companies and Societies (Ministère de Tutelle des Sociétés et Entreprises d’Etat du Mali), becoming assistant to the Minister from 1987. During this period, Sidibé Cissé studied at universities and foundations throughout West Africa, and farther afield in France, Canada, Belgium, and Italy.
In the interim return to democratic rule in 1991, Sidibé Cissé was named Special Adviser to the President (the interim Presidency then held by coup leader Amadou Toumani Touré
) and was named Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the transitional government (August 1991-June 1992). From May 1992 to June 1992, she also was Minister of Agriculture. Sidibé Cissé served from August 1993 to November 2000 as Executive Secretary of the intergovernmental Interstate Committee on the Fight Against Desertification in the Sahel ( Cilss -- Comité Inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse au Sahel) based in Ouagadougou
. In August 2001 Sidibé Cissé was again named Special Counselor to the President, this time following Amadou Toumani Touré election to that office. From March to June 2002, Sidibé Cissé was again appointed to Ministerial posting, becoming Minister of Rural Development. In 2003, Sidibé Cissé was named the president of the administrative council of Mali's government Tobacco corporation, SONTAM (Société nationale des tabacs et allumettes du Mali).
was stepping down and dissolving the government. Sidibé Cissé's appointment as PM was read out as "Decree No. 2011-173 PRM" on state television during the evening of 3 April. She is the first female Prime Minister of Mali, and the second Prime Minister of President Amadou Toumani Touré's second and final term.
Sidibé Cissé and the current President were said by his press office to be "old friends", though her direct involvement in politics over the last decade has been minimal.
Malian press reactions to her appointment centered on her role as the first female PM, but also on the political calculus behind the move. One paper described her as "unknown to most of the public," Others pointed to the promise made that the government would not contain any leaders wishing to run in the 2012 Presidential or legislative elections. President Amadou Toumani Touré, who is not a member of any political party, has ruled over a multiparty coalition of ADEMA-PASJ, which had recently come under internal stress due to rumors that the former PM was preparing for a 2012 Presidential bid. The new PM is seen as having been close to the previous President (and ADEMA leader) Alpha Oumar Konare
, and perhaps a "clean pair of hands" to carry out government reforms which President Amadou Toumani Touré has promised.
The editor of the powerful Bamako daily, Le Républicain, speculated that Amadou Toumani Touré's choice of woman Prime Minister was in part a symbol, reaching out to female voters in the year leading to the June 2012 Malian elections, and allowing the previous PM opportunity to run for the Presidency. He praised the President for his appointment in a "still very conservative country remains divided on the issue of gender and the vicissitudes of the family code," a reference to the Family Law bill proposed in 2009, that would have promoted women's rights, and was withdrawn after large conservative protests.
Modibo Sidibé
Modibo Sidibé is a Malian politician who was Prime Minister of Mali from September 2007 to April 2011.-Career:Sidibé, who was born in Bamako, was a police chief before serving as a technical adviser to the Ministry delegated to National Defense from 1986 to 1989; he was then the chief of staff of...
.
Early career
Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé was born in TimbuktuTimbuktu
Timbuktu , formerly also spelled Timbuctoo, is a town in the West African nation of Mali situated north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The town is the capital of the Timbuktu Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali...
, Mali on 4 January 1948. Her family name is Sidibé but she later took her husband's family name Cissé as well. Sidibé Cissé was educated at a Goundam
Goundam
Goundam is a commune and town in north central Mali, in the Tombouctou Region. It is the capital of Goundam Cercle, one of five subdivisions of the Region. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 16,253...
primary school, and later received her baccalauréat in 1970. From there she received a degree in Civil Administration from the Malian National School for Administration (EDA) in Bamako.
From 1974 to 1989 Sidibé Cissé worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Oversight for State Companies and Societies (Ministère de Tutelle des Sociétés et Entreprises d’Etat du Mali), becoming assistant to the Minister from 1987. During this period, Sidibé Cissé studied at universities and foundations throughout West Africa, and farther afield in France, Canada, Belgium, and Italy.
In the interim return to democratic rule in 1991, Sidibé Cissé was named Special Adviser to the President (the interim Presidency then held by coup leader Amadou Toumani Touré
Amadou Toumani Touré
Amadou Toumani Touré is the president of Mali. He overthrew a military ruler, Moussa Traoré in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year...
) and was named Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the transitional government (August 1991-June 1992). From May 1992 to June 1992, she also was Minister of Agriculture. Sidibé Cissé served from August 1993 to November 2000 as Executive Secretary of the intergovernmental Interstate Committee on the Fight Against Desertification in the Sahel ( Cilss -- Comité Inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse au Sahel) based in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
. In August 2001 Sidibé Cissé was again named Special Counselor to the President, this time following Amadou Toumani Touré election to that office. From March to June 2002, Sidibé Cissé was again appointed to Ministerial posting, becoming Minister of Rural Development. In 2003, Sidibé Cissé was named the president of the administrative council of Mali's government Tobacco corporation, SONTAM (Société nationale des tabacs et allumettes du Mali).
Prime Minister
On 30 March 2011 Amadou Toumani Touré announced his Prime Minister Modibo SidibéModibo Sidibé
Modibo Sidibé is a Malian politician who was Prime Minister of Mali from September 2007 to April 2011.-Career:Sidibé, who was born in Bamako, was a police chief before serving as a technical adviser to the Ministry delegated to National Defense from 1986 to 1989; he was then the chief of staff of...
was stepping down and dissolving the government. Sidibé Cissé's appointment as PM was read out as "Decree No. 2011-173 PRM" on state television during the evening of 3 April. She is the first female Prime Minister of Mali, and the second Prime Minister of President Amadou Toumani Touré's second and final term.
Sidibé Cissé and the current President were said by his press office to be "old friends", though her direct involvement in politics over the last decade has been minimal.
Malian press reactions to her appointment centered on her role as the first female PM, but also on the political calculus behind the move. One paper described her as "unknown to most of the public," Others pointed to the promise made that the government would not contain any leaders wishing to run in the 2012 Presidential or legislative elections. President Amadou Toumani Touré, who is not a member of any political party, has ruled over a multiparty coalition of ADEMA-PASJ, which had recently come under internal stress due to rumors that the former PM was preparing for a 2012 Presidential bid. The new PM is seen as having been close to the previous President (and ADEMA leader) Alpha Oumar Konare
Alpha Oumar Konaré
Alpha Oumar Konaré was the President of Mali for two five-year terms , and was Chairperson of the African Union Commission from 2003 to 2008.-Scholarly career:...
, and perhaps a "clean pair of hands" to carry out government reforms which President Amadou Toumani Touré has promised.
The editor of the powerful Bamako daily, Le Républicain, speculated that Amadou Toumani Touré's choice of woman Prime Minister was in part a symbol, reaching out to female voters in the year leading to the June 2012 Malian elections, and allowing the previous PM opportunity to run for the Presidency. He praised the President for his appointment in a "still very conservative country remains divided on the issue of gender and the vicissitudes of the family code," a reference to the Family Law bill proposed in 2009, that would have promoted women's rights, and was withdrawn after large conservative protests.
Prior government positions
- Minister of Planning and International Cooperation (from August 1991 to June 1992 during the transition)
- Minister of Agriculture and Environment, concurrently with the portfolio of Planning and International Cooperation (May 1992-June 1992)
- Minister of Rural Development (March 2002-June 2002)