Meet Kamissa Camara, Mali’s youngest and first female minister for foreign affairs

Recently- re-elected president of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita named 35-year-old Kamissa Camara as the minister for foreign affairs in his recent cabinet reshuffle.

With a rich background in foreign affairs and policies, Camara becomes the first woman to hold this post in the history of Mali.

Before her appointment as the minister, she served as the diplomatic advisor to President Keita.  She is also the founder and co-chair of the Sahel Strategy Forum, which provides a platform to stakeholders to promote peace, security and development across the Sahel.

Camara holds an M.A. in International Economics and Development from Université Pierre Mendès France after completing a B.A. in Applied Foreign Languages, specializing in International Relations from Université Denis Diderot (Paris, France). 

She has been extensively featured in the press and conferences on various issues affecting the Sahel region including governance, conflict, democracy and security.

As the diplomatic advisor to the president, Camara has been vocal about the need for strategic partnerships between Mali and other countries, including China.

Camara is now among 11 women out of 32 ministers in Mali’s new cabinet.