Africa gets another female Chief Justice

Africa has seen a few female presidents as gender equality continues to be a topical issue across the continent. Women continue to be the dominant gender in some key sectors on the continent, however, despite their dominance, they seem to be given minor roles in these sectors.

This trend seems to be changing in recent times as we have witnessed countries like Ethiopia and Rwanda forming gender-balanced governments, giving women more representation.

Irrespective of the efforts of these two countries more remains to be done in the other 52 recognized states on the continent towards achieving gender-balanced systems.

Sudan has toed the line of change by appointing its first female Chief Justice, Neemat Abdullah Mohamed Khair. She becomes only the fifth female Chief Justices in African after Ghana’s Sophia Akuffo, Seychelles’ Mathilda Twomey, Ethiopia’s Ashenafi and Lesotho’s Nthomeng Majara.

Her appointment comes on the back of the swearing-in of Abdalla Hamdok as prime minister alongside a top general who is tasked to oversee a military-civilian council.

According to reports, a decree saw the appointment of 11 members of the Sovereignty Council, including two women. It comes after several unsuccessful meetings by The Forces of Freedom and Change and the military council to agree on the way forward for Sudan.

Neemat Abdullah Mohamed Khair was selected instead of the perceived Abdelkader Mohamed Ahmed, who was originally the candidate of The Forces of Change for the presidency of the judiciary.

Sudan has been marred by internal conflict and political crisis after the overthrow of long-serving leader, Omar al-Bashir in April. The takeover by the military regime saw constant street protests that birthed the Force for Freedom and Change.

Formed early this year during the 2018-19 Sudanese protests, The Force for Freedom and Change is a wide political coalition of civilian and rebel coalitions of Sudanese groups including; the Sudanese Professional Association, the Sudan Revolutionary Front, the National Consensus Forces and the Sudanese resistance committees.

Nemat Kheir was sworn-in by the Head of the Judiciary in front of the Head of the transitional military council, Lieutenant General Abdul Fattah Al Burhan.

The report stated that she proceeded in the judiciary until she became a Supreme Court judge and is considered one of the founders of the Sudanese Judges Club and is not politically affiliated to any party.