Fatoumata Tambajang
{{Short description|Gambian politician and activist}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Fatoumata Tambajang
| office = 8th Vice-President of the Gambia
| term_start = 9 November 2017
| term_end = 29 June 2018
{{small|Acting: 23 January 2017 – 9 November 2017}}
| president = Adama Barrow
| predecessor = Isatou Njie-Saidy
| successor = Ousainou Darboe
| image = Aid for Trade Global Review 2017 – Day 3 (35059631424).jpg
| caption = Tambajang in 2017
| office1 = Minister of Women's Affairs
| term_start1 = 22 February 2017
| term_end1 = 29 June 2018
| president1 = Adama Barrow
| predecessor1 = Isatou Njie-Saidy (as Secretary)
| successor1 = Ousainou Darboe
| office2 = Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare
| term_start2 = 1994
| term_end2 = 1995
| predecessor2 = Landing J. Sonko
| president2 = Yahya Jammeh
| successor2 = Nyimasata Sanneh-Bojang
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|10|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Brikama, the Gambia
| citizenship = Gambian
| nationality =
| party = UDP
| otherparty = Coalition 2016
| spouse =
| relations =
| children = 8
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
| education =
| blank1 = Ethnicity
| data1 = Fula
}}
Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang{{cite web|url=http://firstcultureng.com/index/all-you-need-to-know-about-fatoumata-tambajang-gambias-new-female-vice-president/|title=All you need to know about Fatoumata Tambajang; Gambia's new female Vice President|date=31 January 2017|publisher=First Culture}} (born 22 October 1949) is a Gambian politician and activist who served as Vice-President of the Gambia and Minister of Women's Affairs from February 2017 to June 2018, under President Adama Barrow.
Early in her career she had been the chair of the Gambia National Women's Council and an advisor to Dawda Jawara, the first President of the Gambia as a nation independent from the colonial rule of the British Empire. After the military coup d'état in July 1994 that deposed the Jawara government, she held the post of Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare from 1994 to 1995 in the cabinet of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.
She was appointed as Vice-President by Barrow in January 2017, but was found ineligible due to constitutional age restrictions. She was instead made Minister of Women's Affairs overseeing the office of Vice-President, until the constitution was changed and she was formally sworn in as Vice-President in November 2017. Prior to her appointment, she had served as chair of Coalition 2016, the alliance of opposition political parties that had supported Barrow's candidacy in the 2016 presidential election.
Early life and education
Tambajang was born in Brikama, the Gambia. She was educated in the Gambia, Dakar and France.{{Cite news|url=http://fatunetwork.net/fatoumata-tambajang-gambias-new-vice-president/|title=Fatoumata Tambajang is Gambia's new Vice President|last=Jobe|first=Alhagie|date=23 January 2017|work=Fatu Network|access-date=23 January 2017}} She completed a BA in French at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.{{Cite news|url=http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/gambia-controversy-surrounds-fatoumatta-jallow-tambajangs-vp-appointment-constitutionally-she-overage/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126152954/http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/gambia-controversy-surrounds-fatoumatta-jallow-tambajangs-vp-appointment-constitutionally-she-overage|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 26, 2017|title=Controversy Surrounds Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang's VP Appointment; Constitutionally She Is Overaged|date=24 January 2017|work=Freedom Newspaper|access-date=24 January 2017}}
Political career
Tambajang was an advisor to Dawda Jawara, the first President of the Gambia, on women's issues and children's affairs. She chaired the Gambia National Women's Council and represented it in the Gambia National Economic and Social Council for six years.
Tambajang served as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare from 1994 to 1995 in the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council cabinet.{{Cite web|url=http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Gambia.htm|title=The Republic of The Gambia|website=Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership|access-date=23 January 2017}} She was one of two female ministers in the cabinet, alongside Susan Waffa-Ogoo.{{Cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Gambia|last=Perfect|first=David|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2016|location=Lanham, Maryland|pages=446}} She addressed the International Conference on Population and Development in September 1994 on behalf of the Gambia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/popin/icpd/conference/gov/940913142831.html|title=Statement of Gambia, H.E. Mrs. Fatoumata C.M. Tambajang|date=12 September 1994|website=United Nations|access-date=23 January 2017}} She then went on to work for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and in the field of development,{{Cite web|url=http://www.africancentreforcommunity.com/An%20Arrey%20Ivo%20interview%20of%20Fatoumata%20Tambajang%202007%20All%20rights%20reserved..pdf|title=An Interview of Fatoumata Tambajang|last=Ivo|first=Arrey|date=2007|website=African Centre for Community and Development|access-date=23 January 2017}} including 5 years in war-torn Mano River.{{cite web|url=http://gambiano.net/fatoumatta-jallow-tambajang-vice-president-gambia-halifa-sallah/|title=Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang is Vice President of The Gambia|publisher=Gambiano|date=23 January 2017}} In 2001, whilst working in the African Great Lakes, she was the victim of a rebel hostage situation.
Tambajang joined the United Democratic Party (UDP) in April 2015, during the Fass stand-off with security forces.{{Cite news|url=http://gainako.com/gambias-vibrant-female-political-aspirant-speaks/|title=Gambia's Vibrant Female political Aspirant speaks|date=23 April 2015|work=Gainako|access-date=23 January 2017}} Tambajang was a senior member of Coalition 2016, the alliance of political opposition parties that supported Barrow in the 2016 presidential election, and she also served as its chair. Following President Yahya Jammeh's defeat in the election, Tambajang declared that Jammeh would be prosecuted within a year. She also announced the creation of a national commission for asset recovery in order to reclaim what had allegedly been lost through corruption during Jammeh's tenure. On Jammeh, she told The Guardian that "He can't leave. If he leaves, he's going to escape us."{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/07/the-gambias-new-rulers-vow-to-prosecute-outgoing-president |title=The Gambia's new rulers vow to prosecute outgoing president |last=Maclean |first=Ruth |date=7 December 2016 |work=The Guardian |access-date=23 January 2017}}
=Process of appointment to the Vice-Presidency =
Following Barrow's inauguration on 19 January 2017, on 23 January it was announced that Tambajang would serve as his Vice-President.{{Cite news|url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/01/23/the-gambia-president-barrow-picks-female-vice-president/|title=President Barrow picks female Vice President|date=23 January 2017|work=Africa News|access-date=23 January 2017}} However, after her selection, it was suggested that she was constitutionally ineligible to take on the role. This was because section 62(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Gambia states that the Vice-President must meet the same age requirement as the President, establishing a maximum age of 65 at the time of entering the office – whereas Tambajang was reported to be 67 at the time of her selection. Following the reports, she was not sworn in immediately to the post, although she disputed the reported age – saying she was only 64 years old.{{cite news|url=http://saharareporters.com/2017/02/07/new-gambian-vice-president-fatoumata-tambajang-age-falsification-scandal|title=New Gambian Vice President, Fatoumata Tambajang, In Age Falsification Scandal|publisher=Sahara Reporters |date=7 February 2017|access-date=10 February 2017}} Barrow challenged the public to show proof that she was above age 65. In February, she was appointed as Minister of Women's Affairs, with oversight of the vice-president's office.{{cite news |url=http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/barrow-appoints-five-new-ministers |title=Barrow appoints five new ministers |work=The Point |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=2 March 2017}}
On 28 February 2017, the National Assembly tried to approve a change to the constitution to eliminate the age limit.{{cite news |work=Daily Nation |url=http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Gambia-scraps-age-limit-/1066-3831954-ct65ja/ |title=Gambia scraps age limit for presidential candidates |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=1 March 2017 |accessdate=3 March 2017}} However, Halifa Sallah, the spokesman for the transitional government and an advisor to President Barrow, said that the proper procedure had not been followed for amending the constitution, and that the action needed to be revisited and such a change would take an additional several months to properly accomplish (according to section 226 of the constitution).{{cite news |first=Pa |last=Nderry M'Bai |url=http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/gambia-breaking-news-govt-will-correct-the-unconstitutional-repealing-of-the-presidential-age-limit-without-following-the-dictates-of-the-law-halifa-sallah/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302210642/http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/gambia-breaking-news-govt-will-correct-the-unconstitutional-repealing-of-the-presidential-age-limit-without-following-the-dictates-of-the-law-halifa-sallah/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |title=Gov't will Correct the Unconstitutional Repealing of the Presidential Age Limit; Without Following the Dictates of the Law – Halifa Sallah |work=Freedom Newspaper |date=4 March 2017 |accessdate=4 March 2017}}
Section 62 was amended by National Assembly of the Gambia on 25 July with the presidential age-limit being removed.{{cite news|url=http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/presidential-age-limit-removed|title=Presidential age-limit removed|publisher=The Point}} Her appointment as Vice-President was confirmed by the President on 8 September and after finalization of her appointment, she was expected to be sworn-in.{{cite news |url=https://www.freedomnewspaper.com/gambia-vp-overseer-fatoumatta-jallow-tambajang-finally-confirmed-as-gambias-vice-president/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910044404/https://www.freedomnewspaper.com/gambia-vp-overseer-fatoumatta-jallow-tambajang-finally-confirmed-as-gambias-vice-president/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 10, 2017 |title=Gambia: VP Overseer Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang Finally Confirmed As Gambia's Vice President! |work=Freedom Newspaper |date=8 September 2017 |accessdate=8 September 2017}} President Barrow announced officially appointing her as Vice-President on 9 November.{{cite news |url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/11/10/barrow-appoints-fatoumata-jallow-tambajang/ |title=Gambian president swears in female vice Jallow-Tambajang |work=Africanews |date=10 November 2017 |accessdate=9 January 2018}}
= Vice-Presidency =
Tambajang was awarded 'New African Woman of the Year Award' by New African Woman Magazine in April 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://nawmagazine.com/new-african-woman-year-fatoumata-jallow-tambajang-gambias-agent-political-change/|title=New African Woman of the Year - Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang! The Gambia's Agent of Political Change|date=17 April 2017|work=New African Woman Magazine|access-date=29 June 2018}} In March 2017, Tambajang joined the Crans Montana African Women's Forum Honorary Committee.{{Cite news|url=http://www.africanwomenforum.org/2017/03/her-excellency-mrs-fatoumata-tambajang-vice-president-of-the-gambia-joins-the-african-womens-forum-h.html|title=Her Excellency Mrs. Fatoumata Tambajang, Vice-President of the Gambia, joins the African Women's Forum Honorary Committee|date=3 March 2017|work=African Women's Forum|access-date=29 June 2018}} During a cabinet reshuffle on 29 June 2018, Tambajang was redeployed to the foreign service.{{Cite news|url=http://foroyaa.gm/president-adama-barrow-reshuffles-his-cabinet/|title=President Adama Barrow reshuffles his Cabinet|date=29 June 2018|work=Foroyaa|access-date=29 June 2018|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211318/http://foroyaa.gm/president-adama-barrow-reshuffles-his-cabinet/|url-status=dead}}
Personal life
Tambajang is from the Fula ethnic group and resides in Kanifing District. She is the mother of eight children.
References
{{Commons category|Fatoumata Tambajang}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tambajang, Fatoumata}}
Category:Vice-presidents of the Gambia
Category:United Democratic Party (Gambia) politicians
Category:2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis
Category:People from West Coast Division (The Gambia)
Category:21st-century Gambian women politicians
Category:21st-century Gambian politicians
Category:Government ministers of the Gambia
Category:Women government ministers of the Gambia