Introduction
There are many factors that one has to account for when describing a good leader. Some leaders are charismatic, while others possess a great ability to inspire other people and highlight their strengths. However, one interpretation of leadership is the ability to introduce new ideas and move forward with concepts, even if they are deemed controversial or unimportant at the time. This description fits the political and advocacy career of Aminata Touré, a Senegalese politician. Most notably, she served as a Prime Minister of Senegal for less than one year. Still, she remains a prominent political figure in her country as well as several other African nations. Her unwavering vision of gender equality and anti-corruption has led to her being dubbed “Iron Lady” by the press (Moshenberg). Although Aminata Touré did not serve in the country for long, her dedication and ability to make difficult decisions make her a great leader.
Biography Overview
Aminata Touré’s history of striving to improve human rights in Africa started long before her nomination as the Prime Minister. She has worked in various campaigns since 1996 in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and the United States (“Present and Future of Africa”). She mostly collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund during this time. Moreover, as she received her education as an academic, she also published several articles and comments in such journals as The Lancet. There, she posed that gender equality, human rights, and health rights are interconnected (Belhadj and Touré 2008). Thus, she had a long academic and advocacy career before becoming a politician.
In 2012, she became the Justice Minister of Senegal, and her focus was on anti-corruption campaigns (Moshenberg). However, she did not abandon her goals of improving human rights, which could be seen in her cabinet nominations. In a year, she left this position to become the Prime Minister, which she held from September 2013 to July 2014 (“Present and Future of Africa”). Later, even though she lost the election, she stayed prominent in local and international politics. President Macky Sall appointed her as a Special Envoy several months later. Now, Aminata Touré continues to campaign for human rights and the prosperity of African countries. She frequently gives speeches and is invited to discussions about the future of Africa (“Present and Future of Africa”).
Leadership
To understand the place of Aminata Touré in the history of Senegal, one has to see what was happening before she was appointed the Prime Minister. As Moshenberg notes, Senegal and neighboring countries had a corruption problem, especially among high-ranking politicians. Aminata Touré gained recognition for putting several of them on trial and in jail (Moshenberg). Thus, Senegal had governmental issues that had deep connections with influential figures, and her successes in this field were especially remarkable. This is the first element of why Aminata Touré is a great leader – she used her position to the best of her ability, not being afraid to challenge the status quo and target individuals with high status and resources.
Second, in 2013, Aminata Touré became the second female Prime Minister of Senegal. Her background in women’s rights and health equality advocacy were significant additions to her political career. As Moshenberg highlights, “a feminist, women’s rights, reproductive rights, human rights activist with a history of accomplishments has become prime minister.” Although she did not stay in this position for a long time, it was an important move for the country to make. Possibly, it was a signal that the president considered these issues vital for the country’s future. The ability of Aminata Touré to stay focused on her goals and her remarkable achievements in her field has made her a leader with a precise aim that could inspire others to believe in the same ideas.
Now, Aminata Touré continues to advocate for human rights, although her central concern is the future of Africa as a whole. She stays committed to her country’s and Africa’s improvement, which makes her leadership reliable. Touré has much experience working with many ministries and organizations in this specific region, making her decisions based on practice and accumulated knowledge. She has faith in her beliefs and the people who follow her, which further strengthens her position as an advocate and a leader.
Conclusion
The history of Aminata Touré and her activism both across Africa and in Senegal paints her as a great leader. She has firm commitments and unchanging beliefs, and she makes difficult choices by challenging the current state of affairs. She pushes Senegal and other countries to be their best, encouraging positive change in Africa to achieve a better future. Although her political career was brief, Aminata Touré remains a prominent figure in Senegalese and African politics. She also serves a greater cause by advocating for women’s rights, anti-corruption, and healthcare improvement. These factors show that leadership qualities are linked not only to one’s thinking or charisma. They also heavily rely on actual everyday actions that one takes. Aminata Touré’s decades-long advocacy and her strong stance on corruption are what made her rise to the position of Prime Minister.
References
Belhadj, Hedia, and Aminata Touré. “Gender Equality and the Right to Health.” Lancet, vol. 372, no. 9655, 2008, pp. 2008-2009.
Moshenberg, Dan. “Senegal Hails New Prime Minister Known for Football and Feminism.”The Guardian, 2013. Web.
“Present and Future of Africa.” Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, 2018. Web.