Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Amina J Mohammed, crowned queen in Niger

It is not every day that someone gets crowned a queen for their leadership qualities.  But, July 7 was such a day when the deputy Secretary General of the UN, Amina J Mohammed was crowned Sarraouania, a chieftaincy title indicating a female chief or a lineage of female ruler.

One of the popular Sarraouania is Mangou, the panther queen who ruled the Azna people in the 19th century and fought against the French invasion in 1899 in the Battle of Longou.

Mohammed was in Niger for a meeting with the Nigerien president, Mahamadou Issoufu as part of the joint United Nations -African Union (UN/AU) mission in the country.

She not only highlighted the need to resolve conflict in a fast an efficient way but also the inclusion of women in the peace process.

“I stressed to the President the importance of women’s participation and leadership in preventing conflicts,” she said. “I also underlined the need to include women in all national and regional responses to the ongoing environmental, humanitarian and development challenges that Niger and the Sahel region face,” she said.

Mohammed was crowned by Nigerien traditional chiefs in a ceremony that saw her become one of the country’s influential leaders.