Gabon appoints first female prime minister

Picture: Reporters Wall

The president of Mali, Ali Bongo, has appointed a woman to be the country's prime minister after the resignation of her predecessor.

The Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, Yves Teale, announced the appointment on Thursday and said 56-year-old Rose Christaine Ossouka Raponda is the first ever female prime minister of Mali.

picture: DW

Prior to her appointment, she served as defense minister and had also served as the first female mayor of Libreville, Mali's capital.

As prime minister, she is to form a new cabinet immediately. She is also faced with handling the coronavirus pandemic and improving Mali's worsening economic status, which is linked to huge drops in oil prices.