Ex-VP Tambajang nominated for African Union Commission deputy chairperson

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The Republic of The Gambia has named former vice president Fatoumata C.M. Jallow Tambajang as the nation’s candidate for the Deputy Chairperson seat of the African Union (AU) Commission, according to the Gambia presidency. Next month, leaders of AU member countries will meet at the ordinary summit to elect a new Commission, the body’s secretariat, to run the organisation for the next four years.

Mrs. Jallow Tambajang has played a prominent role in national and continent-wide platforms, with a career spanning over 35years, 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 Program (UNDP) her work focused on international development management, gender, policy, and training. As part of the Gambia 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 distinguished 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.

Mrs. Jallow Tambajang plans to pursue an aggressive forward-looking agenda if elected to the position, looking 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.

Her nomination for DPC has already received the endorsement of the West Africa regional economic bloc, the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS).

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