Many women presidents in Africa came into power as acting presidents. Only a few of them were elected. Despite this, all of them have left a mark on the continent through their different works. In this article, we’ll tell you about the female presidents Africa has had, how they came and left power, and their works.

Meet the 10 Women Presidents of Africa

1. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia)

A woman known as Africa’s “Iron Lady”, Ellen Johnson was Africa’s first elected female president and the first woman to head a country for 2 consecutive tenures in Africa.

In 2005, she won Liberia’s presidential elections and in 2006, she was inaugurated as the 24th president of the country.

In January 2012, Ellen started her second tenure as president. Her term ended in 2018 but she is still remembered for her remarkable domestic and foreign policies. She is most famous for making education free and compulsory for all children within the elementary age. She also signed the Freedom of Information Bill.

She ensured that Liberia formed close ties with the US, China, and other countries. She also made it possible for most countries to waive Liberia’s debt.

2. Sylvie Kinigi of Burundi

Sylvie Kinigi was born in 1953 and at the time she was 40 in 1993, she served as the first female president in Burundi and Africa (not elected). She started as a Prime minister on July 10 1993 and lasted until February 4, 1994.

While Sylvie Kinigi was serving as a Prime Minister, she became the acting president of Burundi in November 1993 and served until February 4, 1994.

Her role as Burundi’s acting president started when the then-president of the country Melchoir Ndadaye was killed. She was succeeded by Cyprien Ntaryamira.

3. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri of South Africa

Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was one of South Africa’s most influential politicians in the 1990s and the 2000s.

She served as South Africa’s acting President in 2005 when the then-president and vice-president were out of the country. Also, on September 25, 2008, she was made an interim president for 14 hours when Thabo Mbeki resigned as President.

Ivy remains the first and only female president of South Africa. She is also the first woman to become the country’s head of State since 1961 when Queen Elizabeth II last ruled the nation.

She died in 2009 at the age of 71 while she was serving as the Minister of Communication and after holding many offices.

4. Rose Francine Rogombe of Gabon

Upon the death of the long-term former president of Gabon, Omar Bongo, Rose Francine became the acting president of Gabon from June 2009 to October of the same year.

She was succeeded by Omar’s son, Ali Bongo who became the third president of Gabon.

Before and after she was president, she served as the Senate President of the country.

She died on 10 April 2015 in Paris at the age of 72.

5. Joyce Hilda Banda (Malawi)

Another female president in Africa is Joyce Banda. She was the 4th  president of Malawi and the first female president of the country.

She became president in 2012, following the demise of the then-ruler, President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Malawi’s cabinet was heavily against her becoming president, but the country’s constitution clearly states that the vice president should be made the leader upon the death of an existing president. Well, Banda was the vice president when Mutharika died.

With the support of Malawi’s ex-president Bakli Muluzi and the then army commander General Henry Odillo among several others, the constitution of Malawi was put above sentiments and she became president.

Her tenure ended in 2014 when she lost the presidential election to Peter Mutharika.

6. Monique Ohsan Bellepeau of Mauritius

She served as an acting president of Mauritius twice. First, she was an acting president from March 2012 to July 2012 following the resignation of the then-president Sir Anerood Jugnauth.

The second time she became an acting president was in May 2015 when Kailisg Purryag resigned up to the inauguration of Ameenah Gurib.

She served for about a week before the short tenure ended on June 5 after about a week. She became the second woman to head Mauritius after Queen Elizabeth II.

See Also: 12 Most Iconic And Greatest African Presidents Ever

7. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (Mauritius)

Another significant African politician and female president to know is Ameenah of Mauritius. She is the first woman to be elected as the president of Mauritius and the third woman to serve as the country’s Head of State after Queen Elizabeth II and Monique Ohsab Bellepeau.

She came into power on June 5 2015 and resigned on March 23, 2018. She resigned following the publication of her leaked bank details. Also, there were conflicts of interest over her involvement with a charity organization called Planet Earth Institute (PEI).

She is mostly remembered for her role in promoting girls’ education and investing in science and technology.

8. Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic)

A lawyer cum politician, Catherine Samba Panza was born in 1954 and at the age of 59, she became the 9th president of the Central African Republic in January 2014.

This would make her the first woman in her country to become Head of State and the 8th woman in Africa.

You may want to ask how she became president. Well, the country’s former President Michel Djotodia resigned and faced an internal crisis.

Conseil National de Transition (CNT) then elected Samba-Panza as interim president. She served for 2 years and failed to win the 2015 general elections. Her tenure ended in 2016 when Faustin-Archange Toudera was sworn in.

In 2020, she again contested to be president but lost again to incumbent Toudera.

9. Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia

In 2018, Sahle-Work became the first female president of Ethiopia after she was elected unanimously by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly. She is also the second female head of state in Ethiopia after Zewditu who was Empress of the country from 1916 to 1930.

Upon her coming to power, Forbes listed her as one of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. She was also ranked the most powerful woman in Africa at the time.

10. Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania

She is a well-established politician. Samia Hassan became the 6th president of Tanzania and the first female president of the country on March 19, 2021.

Before she became president, she was the first female vice president of Tanzania under the presidency of John Magufuli. Upon Magufuli’s death, Samia was sworn in as president.

In 2022, she was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world.

The post All Women Presidents Of Africa appeared first on WeAfrique.

Notably, former leaders like Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari led the country as military men and later as civilians. Sir Abubakar Tafabalewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Yakubu Gowon, and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan are some of the celebrated of these former leaders.

Let’s Find Out How Every Nigerian Leader Came to Power and How They Left

1. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa(1960-66)

• Assumed Office: Elected
• Left Office: January 15, 1966-Through Military Coup

He was born in modern-day Bauchi state, northern Nigeria. Having enjoyed a Western education that saw him through the tertiary levels, he became one of the main supporters of education in Northern Nigeria.

Apart from this, Balewa was one of the earliest politicians to make demands for the independence of Nigeria from the British. Considering his huge contributions, it is unsurprising that he became Nigeria’s first prime minister in 1957. After his first term he ran for another in 1964 In fact, he ran for a second term in 1964 which he won.

However, his reign was cut short by a military coup At independence, he was made prime minister while Queen Elizabeth remained the head of government. He was re-elected for a second term in 1964. Despite his plans for the new country, he was removed from power through a bloody coup that claimed his life on January 15, 1966.

2. Nnamdi Azikiwe(1963-66)

• Assumed Office: Elected 1963
• Left Office: Through Coup in 1966

Fondly referred to as ‘Zik’, he was born in Zungeru in 1904 to parents from the Eastern part of the country. Before assuming office, Azikiwe worked as a Newspaperman, and through this, he spread his ideas of Garvey and the course of Nigeria’s independence.

His political career took off with his election into the Lagos Legislative Council. From there, he rose through the ranks to the position of governor-general in 1960. His primary role was representative of the British monarch. After the country changed its style of government to the republican system, he became Nigeria’s first president in 1963.

Though he had dreams of seeing Nigeria rise to assume its position of greatness, his stay in office was cut short by a military coup in 1963. His survival from this takeover of power makes him one of the leaders to escape death as a result of coups.

In later years he bid for the presidency in 1979 and 1983 but he was not successful. Sadly, the first Nigerian president died on May 11, 1996, at the age of 91 from an undisclosed ailment.

3. General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi(January 17, 1966-July 1966)

• Assumed Office: Through Military Coup
• Left Office: Was Killed in Military Coup

Also nicknamed Ironside, General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi was born in Abia state to parents of Igbo descent and later became Nigeria’s first military head of state. He came to power through a coup organized by some Igbo army officers on January 16, 1966. Considering that the coup removed power and led to the death of Sir Tafawa Balewa, many felt that it was a planned attempt by the Igbos to take over power. The coup which happens to be the first in the nation’s history set a precedence for other coups.

His stay in office lasted less than seven months during which there was so much ethnic tension in the country. As abruptly as he assumed power, General Ironsi was also shown during a counter-coup by people of mostly northern origins in July 1966. Though he died during the coup, the events surrounding how he died have remained unexplained to this day. Ironside’s son, Thomas escaped death dressed as a girl while his father’s body was found in a nearby forest. Regardless of the sad death of the former head of state, the legend of his swagger stick also known as Charlie is still told. Many believe that his swagger stick deflected bullets during his command in the Congo War.

4. General Yakubu Gowon(1966-1975)

• Assumed Office: Through Military Coup
• Left Office: Through Military Coup

He is the youngest head of state that Nigeria ever had when he assumed office at the age of 31 in 1966. Gowon was born in Pankshin, Plateau state. He came to power through a military coup that ousted General Ironsi. In his rise to power, Gowon was faced with some of the greatest challenges that many nations prayed never to experience such as the civil war which started in 1967.

During the war, Gowon reorganized the country into twelve states. Aside from this, he was active in building a united Africa. It is not surprising that it was while he was on an OAU visit in Uganda that his government was overthrown in the military coup of July 29, 1975.

Over the years, many have argued about his role in the civil war. While some accuse him of causing the war, there are many who celebrate him as a unifier of the country. Regardless, his tenure left lasting legacies like the NYSC scheme aimed at fostering national unity among different groups.

5. General Murtala Muhammad(1975-1976)

• Assumed Office: Through Coup
• Left Office: Killed in a Coup

These days his name is part of many national monuments like the airport in Lagos and the names of major highways in the country. Like many military leaders, he came to power through a coup that toppled Gowon’s government.

In his inaugural speech and throughout his stay in office, he made it clear that everything would be done with immediate effect. This earned him the nickname of the man who ruled with ‘immediate effect’. As quickly as he wanted to rule the country, he did not live long to see things done immediately as he was killed just 7 months into his reign in a futile coup. Reportedly, he was killed on his way to work on Valentine’s Eve in 1978 in a coup led by Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka.

6. General Olusegun Obasanjo(1976-1979)

• Assumed Office: Succeeded Slain Leader, Murtala Muhammad
• Left Office: Handed Over to Civilian Government

General Obasanjo was born in Abeokuta and came to power after the unsuccessful coup that ousted Murtala. As Murtala’s deputy, General Obasanjo took over. Notably, he rose to be an effective military diplomat who promoted African unity and was at the forefront of fighting the apartheid regime in South Africa.

As you would easily find in the records, he followed through with Murtala’s plan of returning the country to civilian rule in 1979. He is still remembered as the first African military leader to hand over power to civilians.

7. Shehu Shagari(1979-1983)

• Assumed Office: Elected
• Left Office: Through Coup

He came to power 13 years after the military took over the reign of power. He had run for the number one political office in Nigeria under the National Party of Nigeria and won. Shagari was sworn in October 1979.

Shagari was in office for four years before he was ousted through a military coup. While Nigerians had plans for a new year, this was shattered by a change in government that occurred on December 31, 1983. This effectively ended Nigeria’s Second republic.

See Also: 12 Most Iconic And Greatest African Presidents Ever

8. Major General Muhammudu Buhari(December 31,1983- August 1985)

• Assumed Office: Through Coup
• Left Office: Through Coup

He assumed the office after ousting Shagari on New Year’s Eve in 1983. However, his stay in office was short-lived as he ruled for less than two years before he was also taken out through a peaceful coup. During his time in office, he introduced austerity measures as well as the War Against Indiscipline program to tackle corruption.

While these measures were laudable, people soon became dissatisfied with his government leading to another coup on August 27, 1985. Though he was not killed, he was detained at Benin City till 1988 when he was released.

9. General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida(1985-1993)

• Assumed Office: Through Coup
• Left Office: Resigned

He came to power through a military coup in 1985. His regime is noted for the privatization of national assets as well as an increase in Nigeria’s debt profile through the IMF loans he took.

Babangida promised to return the country to democratic rule. In 1993, an election was conducted and it produced Chief M.K.O Abiola as the winner. Though the election was dubbed Nigeria’s freest and fairest, Babangida annulled the election leading to an outcry.

Following the annulment of the election, he resigned and formed an interim government.

10. Ernest Shonekan(August 1993-November 1993)

• Assumed Office: Appointed leader of interim Government
• Left Office: Resignation

He was born in Lagos on May 9, 1936. Chief Ernest Shonekan was a trained lawyer and businessman who emerged as the leader of Nigeria’s interim in 1993. Notably, he was faced with many challenges including finance and a powerful military influence in the affairs of the country. Unsurprisingly, this undermined his powers as an interim leader. He was forcefully made to resign through what is called a palace coup.

Despite his vision for a prosperous nation, Shonekan was never allowed to actualize this dream. Sadly, he passed away on January 11, 2022, at the age of 85.

11. General Sani Abacha(November 1993-June 1998)

• Assumed Office: As a Military Head of state after Shonekan Resigned
• Left Office: Death

Dubbed names like ‘the most brutal dictator of the West African Powerhouse’, ‘Nigeria’s Last Dictator’, and also  ‘Thug of the Year’ by Time Magazine, General Sani Abacha’s rise to power was full of many feats. He is of Kanuri descent but was born and raised in Kano in 1943. He rose through the ranks of the Nigerian army to the position of full military general without skipping a rank. Notably, he is said to be an accomplice in all the military coups that happened in the country, so it is not surprising that he also came to power through an unofficial coup on November 17, 1993.

Officially, Ernest Shonekan is said to have resigned thus reducing the power of the interim government which he eventually sacked. During his time in office, Abacha introduced decrees that gave him powers over the courts while allowing him to detain people for up to three months without trial. With this power at his disposal, it set the tone for various instances of human rights violations and the killing of opposition. Some victims of his brutal regime include Moshood Abiola, and the Ogoni activist, Ken Saro Wiwa.

His iron-fist leadership drew the attention of the international community and led to many sanctions on the country. Yet, Abacha remained unmoved. Economically, the country experienced a rise in the foreign reserve and cancellation of external debt, yet, his regime was involved in the ‘Abacha loot’ saga which was a massive embezzlement scheme that pushed Nigeria’s monies to foreign accounts.

Despite his tight grip on the country, he lost control when he died on June 8, 1998. At the time, his death was said to be caused by a sudden heart attack. Yet, there have been a lot of speculations that he may have been poisoned. The strongest of these claims was made by his chief security officer, Major Hamza al-Mustapha. The former security chief alleged that Abacha’s health started deteriorating on June 7 after he shook hands with one of the security details of President Yasser Arafat of Palestine. Other speculations link his death to sexual bouts with some Indian prostitutes.

12. Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar(June 1998-May 29,1999)

• Assumed Office: Succeeded Abacha
• Left Office: Handed over to Civilian Government in 1999

Following the death of Abacha, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar assumed office in June 1998. From the onset, he made it clear that he would hand over power to a civilian government.

For a start, he released political prisoners like Obasanjo and introduced many reforms. In less than a year, he handed over to a democratically elected government on May 29, 1999, setting in motion Nigeria’s fourth republic.

13. Olusegun Obasanjo(May 29, 1999-May 2007)

• Assumed Office: Elected
• Left Office: After two tenures

The Abeokuta-born former military head of state came to power again in 1999 after a long military rule. This time, he came in as a civilian head of state through the presidential election that ushered in Nigeria’s fourth republic.

Prior to assuming office as a democratically elected president under the PDP, he had served a prison sentence during the last few years of Abacha’s dictatorship. After Abdulsalam released him from prison, he ran for president. Though he won 63% of the total votes, Obasanjo did not win any of the states in his region.

His term in office is remarkable for setting Nigeria on the modern path through the introduction of telecommunications. Also, he attempted to run for a third term after his second tenure expired in 2007. He went as far as trying to make adjustments to the Constitution but this eventually failed.

See Also: 50 Most Powerful Nelson Mandela Quotes 

14. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua(May 2007-May 2010)

• Assumed Office: Elected
• Left Office: Died, 2010

He is a Katsina native who once served as governor of the state from 1999 to 2007.  Shortly after, he ran for and won the presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party. He came to power on May 29, 2007. During his stay in office, President Yar’ Adua had many plans for Nigeria, and in order to see this come through, he introduced the 7-point agenda. Also, he was the first president to declare his assets so he could set an example for other leaders.

However, his tenure was a bumpy one for the leader who is said to have a kidney condition that undermined what he could do or not. Sadly, this ailment claimed his life even before he had completed his tenure. Yar’Adua died at the age of 58 on May 5, 2010, at the presidential villa in Aso Rock.

15. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan(May 2010-May 2015)

• Assumed Office: Succeeded Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
• Left Office: After Losing the Election

He came to power as the 14th president on May 5, 2010, following the death of Yar’Adua. Prior, the former lecturer was governor of the oil-producing state of Bayelsa till he became the vice president during Yar’Adua’s tenure. After the late president’s death, President Jonathan completed his term in 2011 after which he ran for office. He won under the Peoples Democratic Party and was sworn in on May 29. 2015.

Unlike other democratically elected presidents, his bid for a second term was unsuccessful. Also, he is one of Nigeria’s respected elder statesmen for peacefully handing over power to the next president.

16. Muhammadu Buhari(May 2015-2023)

• Assumed Office: Elected
• Left Office: Expired Second Tenure

The former military leader came back to power through elections in 2015. The Duara native had contested elections severally before he made his successful bid against the then-sitting president, Jonathan. During his campaign, the retired military general promised to tackle insecurity and corruption. Notably, these two and other issues like kidnapping went high.

President Buhari’s tenure ended after two terms in office. He will hand it over to another elected president in 2023.

17. Bola Ahmed Tinubu(May 29, 2023-Present)

On March 1, 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu also known as ‘Jagaban’ was declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Jagaban was the flagbearer of the ruling All Progressive Congress which produced President Buhari previously. Prior to his swearing-in on May 29, 2023, Asiwaju’s ascension to power faced its share of controversies.  The main one being that the election was massively rigged.

Many, are of the opinion that the presidential election was won by Labour Party’s Peter Obi who came third behind People Democratic Party’s Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who came second. Following this, the two parties took the matter before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Based on the trial, the tribunal upheld Tinubu’s presidential win in a judgment passed on September 6, 2023.

While many would think the matter has died down, Obi and Atiku appealed the judgment at the Supreme Court. On his own, Obi of the Labour Party filed 86-ground for his appeal while Atiku of the PDP made his appeal on 35 grounds.

The post How Every Nigerian Leader Came And Left appeared first on WeAfrique.

So how did this once beautiful friendship turn sour? Apparently, Compaore got greedy for power and decided to put a knife to the back of Sankara, whose reformations earned him the nickname Che Guevera of Africa.

Though Compaore did not hesitate to take over Sankara’s position after a bloody coup in 1987, not many were impressed by his methods nor his position, and for the next couple of years, his life and legacy were in the shadow of one of Africa’s revolutionary leaders. He was convicted in 2021.

Considering that political betrayals have been rife throughout History, this is arguably the worst one in Africa.

Thomas Sankara and Blaise Compaore Started as Friends

Sankara and Compoare were best friends even before they became national figures. They first met at the beginning of their military career. Eventually, they became so close that Compoare became like a son to Sankara’s father when he lost his parents.

When Sankara seized power through a coup in 1983, he chose his right-hand man, Compoare, to be his deputy to help him set his revolutionary ideas in motion. While many, especially the common people, saw in him a savior, others, especially within the military, saw it differently.

Compaore wanted to be in Power Rather than Answer to Sankara

Among those dissatisfied with Sankara’s power was his closest friend and deputy, Blaise Compaore. At some point, things became so heated between the two friends that Sankara is said to have feared Compaore would act against him in the National Revolutionary Council. These concerns were revealed by Rawlings, who had received Campaore days before the gruesome events that would lead to one of the worst betrayals in African History.

Compaore had masterminded the coup d’etat, which was carried out on October 15, 1987. The ill-fated event was carried out while Blaise was ‘away on official duty. The revolutionary leader was shot seven times while en route to a meeting of the National Revolutionary Council, but he and 12 others present never survived the attack.

As if this was not enough, Sankara’s body was quickly buried in an unmarked grave while his young wife, Mariam, and two children fled the country. Following this, Compoare, who had denied any involvement with his friend’s death, soon took over power and started changing some of the policies introduced by Sankara.

Many Reactions Trailed Sankara’s Death

The impact of his leadership was felt beyond the boundaries of Burkina Faso, and here is why.

He had pursued aggressive pan-African policies that drew backlash from those opposing him while the underdogs saw a vision of hope in him. Unsurprising, some soldiers put up resistance after his death. Also, many never saw Campaore’s government as just one. Few men took things too far to prove this.

One of such is Ghana’s Rawlings, a close friend of the deposed leader who refused to pose for a photograph with Campaore. Rawlings revealed he was bitter and angry toward Sankara’s death, and his testimonial will be one of the turning points in the investigation, as we shall see.

Nigerian late Afro musician Fela Kuti, who is known for thought-provoking music, is said to have abused Compaore for his role in Sankara’s death. The Coffin for Head of State crooner staunchly believed in Sankara’s revolutionary ideas and policies.

Compaore was Handed a Life Sentence for the Killing of Sankara

During his rule, Compaore proved to be a strongman as he clamped down on the true circumstances of events leading up to the killing of the then 33-year-old Thomas Sankara. There were many speculations for the 27 years of his rule until he was deposed by a popular uprising and forced to flee to Ivory Coast in October 2014.

Despite this victory, closure was needed to restore this sad bit of history. Sankara’s widow had accused France of having a hand in her husband’s death, and in 2017,  the Burkina Faso government asked for official records of the events from the French government.

Compaore and 14 others were tried and found guilty by a military court in April 2021. Interestingly, the trial was paused due to a coup that ousted then-President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. The coup, which was a Jihadist encroachment, was soon repelled, and Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba restored the constitution of the country.

Subsequently, they resumed the trial. The gruesome details of how Sankara was shot seven times alongside 12 others were made public during a six-month trial. Initially, the prosecutors had pushed for a 30-year sentence for the former president, who was tried in absentia. Since then, the former Burkinabe dictator got served what he had served, and in his case, many welcomed this as justice for a demised man who only dreamt of seeing his country become the actual ‘land of upright people.’

See Also: African Countries And Their Capitals, Independence, And Currency

Compaore Apologized for the Part He Played in the Killing Sankara 

Since his conviction, Compaore wants to make peace with a past that should have never happened. Unsurprisingly, he has apologized for his role in the killing of his friend and leader. According to a statement read by a government spokesman, Campoare

‘…accepted responsibility for, and regret from the bottom of my heart, all the suffering and tragedies experienced by all victims during my terms as leader of the country and ask their families to grant me their forgiveness’

Compoare returned to the country for several days when Damiba invited him on the grounds of National Reconciliation. Based on this, Compoare was not arrested, leading to a public outcry over what many considered rewarding impunity. Considering the political turmoil that the country had experienced, many were not satisfied.

The post The Worst Betrayal In African History: Story of How Compaore Betrayed Thomas Sankara appeared first on WeAfrique.

Now, this is not where the story starts or ends. It is commonly believed that beyond being a reincarnated Sankara, Ibrahim Traoré is Sankara’s ghost who haunts Burkina Faso. How true is this, and why are the men often being compared?

Before giving you the similarities between the two soldiers who became presidents at almost the same age, there is something to keep in mind. The captains became more interested in liberating their people and taking them out of the thorned hands of colonial masters. Of course, this is beyond being rulers. But then, one of the easiest ways to do that was by ruling the country through military regimes.

Their ideologies of who their people are and who they should be seem to be intertwined. In fact, Traore brings back those ideologies and reminds people of the exact words of Sankara, “The slave who is unable to assume his revolt does not deserve to be pitied.”

Most Fascinating 16 Similarities Between Thomas Sankara and Ibrahim Traoré Everyone Should Know

1. They Were Both Excellent Students 

Sankara and Traore were both good students while growing up. They were quiet but talented and quickly became popular among students and teachers.

Traore attended primary school in Bondokuy while Sankara attended his primary school at Bobo-Dioulasso. Sankara was mostly famous for excelling in mathematics and French and was admired for his enthusiasm for education. In fact, his enthusiasm was quickly noticed by priests who encouraged him to go to a seminary. However, he chose a more conventional school.

This same enthusiasm was noticed in Traoré whose teachers still speak highly of him. He also later obtained a degree at the University of Ouagadougou where he graduated as one of the best students.

In case you’re wondering why I brought in this similarity. Here’s the short answer. Being highly intelligent students at early ages could easily sit as a stool that probably inspired their later ideologies and decisions to become revolutionists.

2. Both Men Have Been Linked to Mali War

In 1974, Thomas Sankara fought on the border between Mali and Upper Volta which he later renamed Burkina Faso. His being part of the war fast gave him fame as his strength was noticed. However, he later called the fight useless and unjust.

The interesting part of this is that his said reincarnation, Ibrahim Traoré also became famous for partaking in the Mali War in 2014. This was about 40 years after Sankara joined the fight.

Here is where the story gets even more fascinating.

At the time Sankara fought in the war, he was approaching 26 years of age. In a similar vein, Traoré was also 26 years old when he joined the fight through a United Nations peacekeeping force called MINUSMA.

3. Captian Ibrahim Traoré and Thomas Sankara Seized Power Through Military Coup

Sankara and Traoré are similar in how they assumed office in Burkina Faso. They used a military coup to remove their predecessors and seize power as rulers of the West African country.

Now the question is why did they use military force to seize power?

This is the background.

Before both Sankara and Traoré, the country had already had numerous military coups. Therefore, it became easier for them to follow suit. At the time Sankara became president, there were already 3 separate military coups in the country which was then called Upper Volta.

Then, the country had 6 separate military coups when it was renamed Burkina Faso and before Ibrahim Traore became president. His coming to power through coup makes it the 7th coup d’etat in 38 years.

4. They are the Only Burkina Faso Presidents Whose Predecessors Spent Slightly Over 240 Days in Office

Before Sankara, his predecessor, Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo spent 268 days as president. Now, this was normal until 2022 when Ibrahim Traoré became president after his predecessor Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba spent 249 days in power. Could it be just another coincidence?

Well, on the surface, it may mean nothing but let’s put them side by side with other Burkina Faso presidents. So far, there is no president of the country whose predecessor spent anything from 200 to 299 days in office. The only exception is Sankara and Traore.

Other presidents, military and democratic spent from 1 to 151 days or 303 days to as high as 27 years.

Maybe, just maybe if you are directly before them, 200 is not your lucky number.

5. Sankara and Traore Became Presidents at Almost the Same Age 

In August 1983, Thomas Sankara became the president of the West African country known as Upper Volta. He was just about 4 months away from being 34 years old.

Sankara was at the time the youngest president in Africa.

This also became the fate of Traore when he became the president of Burkina Faso in October 2022 at 34. He automatically became the youngest president in Africa and the world.

At the time Sankara became president, Africa was already used to getting young presidents. Some of them include Yakubu Gowon of Nigeria who was 31 years old, and Valentine Strasser who became military head of state in Sierra Leone 3 days before he turned 25.

Because of these, Sankara’s age and his ability to rule was not questioned that much.

Now, the continent is mostly being ruled by older people in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. This has led many to question if Traoré’s age would affect him, or if he will give us something else to think about in terms of being young and changing the leadership narrative in Africa like Sankara.

6. They Have Been Linked to Russia and Different Men Named “Vladimir”

Except if you have followed the story of Sankara very closely, it is easy to miss this point about him. Unlike Traore who the world keeps directly linking him to Russia, Sankara had more of an indirect link with the European country.

How is that? In case this question wanders in your mind, stay put to find out.

Now, back to how Sankara is linked to Russia.

In the 1970s, Sankara came across several books, including that of Vladimir Lenin. Now you see how he is linked to a man named Vladimir. Anyway, that is not all and that is definitely not the juicy part of the gist.

Sankara read many books from Vladimir, a revolutionist, lawyer, and writer; and in no time, his political ideologies were formed. It is with these ideologies that he rose to become a revolutionist and a leader who died in the course of serving Burkina Faso, “the land of Upright Men”.

Let’s shift our focus now to the man of the moment, Ibrahim Traore. Following the successful coup that brought him to power, many allegations arose that Russia was at the helm of the coup. Shortly after, he joined 17 other African heads to attend the 2023 Russia-Africa summit headed by Vladimir Putin.

7. Both Men are Nationalists and Pan-Africanists

The love for Africa and the need for the continent to develop is one other interesting thing Sankara and Traore have in common. They believe that Africa has all that it needs to grow and does not have to rely on Western countries to develop.

One common word they use to describe African leaders who give in to the Western world to gain favor is “puppet”.

8. Captian Ibrahim Traore and Thomas Sankara are Religious Men

No, Sankara and Traoré are not of the same religious beliefs. Let’s clarify that before we continue.

Sankara was a Christian and Catholic. In fact, he took work in his church seriously and was easily noticed by church leaders who encouraged him to attend a seminary. His parents also saw his dedication and wanted him to become a priest but the Pan-Africanist chose the military.

Looking at Traore, he is Muslim and takes his faith seriously. Also, he was part of the Association of Muslim Students while at the university.

This is interesting enough but no, it is not all. While Sankara and Traore are similar in taking their religious lives seriously, humanity and fighting for the good of their people seem to be a new religion – if revolution was a religion of course!

9. Their Charisma Makes Them The Most Popular Burkina Faso Leaders in History

Whenever you hear Traoré talk, you would definitely hear eloquence. In case you haven’t heard Sankara speak, you may want to surf the internet. Then you’ll come to terms that the men are eloquent and command respect with their words.

It is no wonder that while Sankara was president, he was one of the most interviewed African leaders and he easily got the media’s attention.

His said reincarnation draws similar concentration. He gets the media’s attention so much so that he is one of the most renowned African leaders.

Before Sankara, there was hardly any attention on Burkina Faso’s leaders, and after him, the attention went down before Traore brought it back.

10. Rather Than Working Closely with France, a Country that colonized them, They Chose Different Countries

If you have been following this video, you will remember that we earlier said that Sankara and Ibrahim Traore don’t want to be “puppets”. So, getting France in the middle of their anti-imperial movement would have been hypocritical if you asked me.

I guess you’re not asking so let me just go straight to the business of the day – That is how Sankara and Traoré want less of French influence.

In the 1980s when Sankara was president, he defined his program as anti-imperial. This means that he distanced his government from colonialism. He reduced French aid by 80% between 1983 and 1985.

Instead, he chose to liaise more with Cuba, a country that was at the time led by another revolutionary, Fidel Castro.

This new friendship saw many Burkinabés move to Cuba to receive professional training in order to help them develop Burkina Faso.

Let us fix our gaze on what Ibrahim Traoré is doing with French influence.

In February 2023, only about 4 months after he became president, Traore’s government expelled the French forces assisting in fighting insurgency in his country. Then, he declared that the country wants a win-win partnership.

Just as the world is trying to digest this, he expelled some French journalists. Of course, this was after he suspended media outlets called France 24 and Radio France International (RFI).

But there is more to this story than just the expulsion. BBC reports that France 24 was suspended due to accusations that the media outlet is “a communications agency of the militants by “broadcasting an interview with the head of al-Qaeda’s North Africa wing, Yezid Mebarek, who is also known as Abu Ubaydah Yusuf al-Anabi”.

France 24 denies the allegation.

Then, the president suspended the RFI on the claim that it broadcast a false report. Like France 24, it denied the allegation.

So, who is Taore getting close to? From indications and media reports, he is strengthening Burkina  Faso’s relationship with Russia and the United States. Also, he is tilting towards forming a good relationship with Mali and Guinea.

11. Both Men are Not Interested in Getting Rich With Burkina Faso’s Wealth 

Many people think this is one of the greatest similarities between Sankara and Traoré. What do you think?

Just before you answer, here is the full story then you make the verdict afterward.

In the 1980s when Sankara became president, he lowered his salary, used only one car, didn’t use an air conditioner, and limited several other luxuries.

Then, just about 2 months after Traoré came into power, he denounced his salary as head of state. Instead, he wanted to receive his salary as a captain.

No, it is not finished. I mean there is more about the two men cutting the cost of governance.

When Sankara came into power, he reduced the salaries of wealthy public servants and forbade the use of well-off government chauffeurs and first-class airline tickets. Also, high-earning civil servants had to pay one month’s salary to public projects.

Now, Traore followed not exactly the same path but it’s similar. In November 2023, under his regime, his ministers cut off 50% of their salaries for the month. This was to help the poor, especially those displaced as a result of insurgency in the country.

Only about a month later, the Burkina Faso government proposed a 1% voluntary deduction from workers’ salaries. Also, there will be deductions on taxes on certain consumer products that are not necessities. Some of the products are tobacco, cosmetics, perfumes, and drinks.

The reason for this is so that the government can pay the 50,000 Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland which is also known as VDP. The VDP will help in fighting against insurgency and each volunteer will receive CFAF 60,000 monthly.

See Also: 10 Safest African Countries In 2023

12. Sankara and Traore Hold the Same Army Ranks

If you have followed this article you will recall that at some point we called both Sankara and Traoré captains. Well, that is one similarity about the soldiers.

This means that both men were junior military officers who passed the ranks of Aspirants, Second Lieutenant, and Lieutenant.

In fact, both men became presidents as captains. Now we ask, will Traoré grow beyond being a captain or he will hold the position for life just as Sankara? Only time shall tell.

13. They Are Interested in Planet Earth

When Sankara was in power, he was very much interested in the environment. He knew that environmental protection was a priority even at a time when ecological awareness was low.

Under his leadership, bush burning was a crime,  cattle roaming was stopped, and also, chaotic cutting of firewood was put in check. He made it paramount for wooded strips to be planted and more food to be cultivated.

By 1987, the country had become food self-sufficient. A year after that, it was revealed that his government planted over 10 million trees.

Before we start to look at how this is similar to Traoré, it may interest you to know that Sankara also studied agriculture.

Now back to Ibrahim Traore. The world’s youngest president studied geology, the field concerned with the solid Earth.

Then in an interview with Voice of Africa in October 2022, he made a revelation about having trees without leaves and linking it to people’s suffering in the country.

Like Sankara, his quest is to protect these trees as much as he intends for food to flow in Burkina Faso, the Land of Upright Men!

14. Sankara and Traore Include Women in the Affairs of the Country

Thomas Sankara once said, “There is no true social revolution without the liberation of women”. With this belief, he improved the status of women in Burkina Faso. It became a crime to force women into marriages and indulge them in female genital mutilation.

Just when you think that is interesting enough, Sankara made it even more gripping when he became the first African leader to appoint women to major cabinet positions and to recruit them actively for the military.

Over 3 decades later, Traore came to power and decided to bring women on board. He had a face-to-face meeting with over 200 women in the 13 regions of Burkina Faso.

Earlier, I mentioned that Sankara had women active in the military. Now, Traore has followed a similar suit when his government had a meeting with women and the outcome was that there would be enlistment of women as Volunteers for the Defence (VDPs).

15. Karl Max was a Major Influence on Both of Them

Before Sankara’s ideologies were fully formed and long before he became the president of his country, he read many of Karl Max’s books which helped in forming his ideologies.

Also, before Traoré’s ideologies were fully formed, he also came across Karl Max’s works. His interest led him to become an activist in the National Association of Burkina Students (ANEB), a Marxist-inspired student organization.

It is possible that we see so much of Sankara in Traore because they exposed their minds to the same person. That person is Karl Max!

16. When You See Either of Them, You’ll Definitely See a Red Beret Hanging On Their Heads

I like to call their berets red but some like to report the color as maroon. Whatever you choose to call the color, there is absolutely no way that you have come across either Sankara or Traoré and you didn’t notice their berets.

As much as this seems to be a good similarity, there is actually a good explanation as to why we know the men with their signature caps.

Burkina Faso follows the French military pattern. French Army paratroopers and special forces wear an amaranth (dark red) beret with three different caps.

This brings us to the end of drawing out similarities between Thomas Sankara and Ibrahim Traoré. But before signing out, note that inasmuch as there are great similarities that we admire about the two men, there may also be disadvantages. For instance, both are said to be impatient. You know what they say about patience and virtue.

In any case, let us see how far the men will continue to be alike. Will fate work in favor of Captain Ibrahim Traoré or will it work against him? Will he fulfill the desires of Sankara by making Burkina Faso great, or will he be betrayed by another Blaise Compaoré?

Many Africans hope Traoré surpasses Sankara. What do you think?

The post 16 Similarities Between Captain Ibrahim Traore And Thomas Sankara appeared first on WeAfrique.

Following the bloodless coup, he was exiled to Conakry, Guinea, and later received a United Nations sponsorship to study law at the University of Warwick, in Coventry, England, but dropped out after a year. Subsequently, he was offered amnesty by Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to return to the country. In 2019, his left leg was amputated due to Peripheral Artery Disease and was given an apartment by the government of his country in 2021.

In this video, we are going to tell the story of Strasser’s fall from grace to grass.

Early Life Of Valentine Stresser?

Valentine Esegragbo Melvin Strasser was born on April 26, 1967, in Allen Town, Freetown to parents of Creole origin. He enrolled at the Church Missionary Grammar School and completed his secondary education in 1985 when he was 18 years old. During his secondary school days, he excelled in math and chemistry.

Strasser Enlisted In Sierra Leone Army At 18 And Was Commissioned At 19

Valentine Strasser enlisted in the Republic of Sierra Leone Military forces immediately after finishing secondary school and had his military training at the Benguema Military Training Academy in Benguema. He was commissioned into the Sierra Leone army at the age of 19 and subsequently deployed to military barracks in Daru, Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone.

At the time he was in the barrack, the country began fighting an incursion of Liberian rebels known as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), led by then-former Liberian President Charles Taylor, as well as a rebellion by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), led by former Sierra Leone army corporal Foday Sanko. As a result, he was sent alongside other soldiers to fight off the latter’s rebellion.

He also fought against the NPFL’s invasion in the country’s south and east, and domestic rebels known as the Sobels.

While the war with RUF was still underway, military personnel on the front lines in Kailahun District protested, accusing the government of President Joseph Saidu Momoh of indifference. There was a shortage of boots and military weapons, as well as low remuneration and welfare, according to sources.

The troops under Strasser’s command marched from Kailahun to the State House in Freetown to protest the neglect and demand that their unpaid salaries be paid. The troops were led by Stresser and two of his best friends, Seargent Solomon Musa and Captain Sahr Sandy.

Momoh fleed for his life and went into exile in Conakry, Guinea. As a result, a power vacuum was created, and someone must fill it.

Valentine Strasser Became Sierra Leone’s Head Of State At 25

Following the power vacuum, Strasser and the men he was commanding seized power and formed the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) in April 1992. Since he was leading the group of soldiers, he was made the Head of State of the country. Thus, he made history by becoming the youngest president three days after marking his 25th birthday.

With Strasser in power, the country’s youth population had renewed hopes that someone who fall at their level had better chances of championing their cause. Unfortunately, he was just too young and inexperienced to run or handle the complex nature of governmental affairs.

He was more interested in crushing the rebellion led by rebel leader Foday Sankoh, but that didn’t yield positive results. So, he hired Executive Outcomes, a South African mercenary firm to supplement his armed forces in the war.

He Was Oust In A Coup De’tat By His Second-In-Command, Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio In 1996

At the age of 29 and barely four years in power, Valentine Strasser was removed from power by his deputy, Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio in a military coup in January 1996.

The coup which was backed by several NPRC’s rank and file, including Col. Tom Nyuma, Lt. Col. Komba Modeh, Lt.Col. Reginald Glover, Lt.Col. Idrissa Kamara and Lt.Col. Karefa-Kargo, following a dispute relating to elections and a peace treaty with the RUF. He was handcuffed by his guards and exiled to Conakry, Guinea in a military helicopter.

See Also-The Rise And Fall of the Greatest Female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut

What Happened To Him After The Coup?

Following his removal from power, Strasser was supported by the UN to study law at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. He dropped out of school a year later after his sponsorship was abruptly revoked. As a result, he was unemployed and homeless until 2000.

He was mocked, and even the British press published articles with alarming headlines that made his ordeal public. Amnesty International demanded that the British government examine charges of torture against Strasser, accusing his forces of “torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary killings of unarmed civilians” at the time. Nonetheless, the former Sierra Leone president dismissed the claims as unreasonable, arguing that RUF was to blame for the crimes.

Besides, he revealed in an interview that a man attacked him in a London Underground station and pulled out a knife at him. He was stabbed and then taken to a hospital.

Strasser was later deported after the British government concluded its investigation and had overwhelming evidence. He left for the Gambia and was denied entry, so he returned home after then-President, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah offered him amnesty.

He found respite in returning home, but his woes were compounded when Ahmed Tejan Kabbah’s Sierra Leona Peoples’ Party (SLPP) lost the presidency in the 2007 general elections to the All Peoples’ Congress (APC).

Sierra Leone’s former President moved to Allen Town to live with his mother and brother. Soon, several newspaper reports indicated he resorted to spending his time in a palm wine bar drinking palm wine.

Valentine Strasser’s Left Leg Was Amputated In 2019

At the beginning of 2019, Strasser fall ill and was flown to Ghana on an executive clearance from President Julius Madaa Bio, the man who served as his deputy, and also overthrew him in 1996. He suffered from Peripheral Artery Disease which affected his left leg, so, it was amputated.

He returned to the country two years later and was given an apartment by President Bio, but it was alleged that Strasser was kept under house arrest.

The post Rise And Fall Of The Youngest African President in History – Valentine Strasser of Sierra Leone appeared first on WeAfrique.

Worldwide, history is full of such examples. In death, a monarch’s power is able to go across generations. Ranavalona rose to power at the height of the European scramble for Africa and was a fierce loyalist of her country.

What makes her an important historical figure over a century after her death? These and other interesting details about her will be uncovered in this article.

Biography Of Queen Ranavalona

Queen Ranavalona was one of the most powerful monarchs that ever ruled Madagascar. Her birth name was Rabodoandrianampoinimerina and was born in 1778. Her parents, Andriantsalamanjaka, and his wife  Rabodonandriantompo became popular after their daughter was betrothed to the king’s son.

She became Queen at a young age and ruled with courage throughout her reign. She was coronated following the death of her husband, Radama I in 1828. Her coronation was done on August 12, 1829.

See Also: Queen Nandi – 10 Fascinating Facts About Mother Of Shaka, King Of The Zulus 

Her Life And Marriage To Radama I 

As one of the strongest rulers, Queen Ranavalon gained many supporters and enemies due to her policy. She used terror to preserve the cultures and traditions of her kingdom.

Her marriage to Radama I was a loveless one. The only advantage she had was being the first of his twelve wives. Their union did not produce any children.

Her ideas of ruling and her husband’s clashed. Radama I was following the progressive policy of his father by allowing Europeans into the Island kingdom while Ranavalona was a strong supporter of traditions.

When her husband died, the news was hidden from the public till she finished plans of snatching the throne. She was an astute politician and left no room for modernity.

She sat on the throne for over three decades and became deadlier with age. Her son, Rakoto from a later union and Laborde, her confidant turned against her. They started planning how to drive her away from power. Their failed attempt send many men to their graves. But her soon and Laborde survived.

Queen Ranavalona Death

Her son was a progressive and a threat to many conservatives who wanted to make her nephew the king.

She died in her sleep on August 16, 1861, at the Rova of Antananarivo. She was 83 years old at the time of her death.

The kingdom mourned her death for 9 months and 12 thousand Zebu were killed and shared to the people. More people lost their lives at her funeral after a spark caused a fire.

Queen Ranavalon’a body was put in a silver casket and placed at a tomb in Ambohimanga. The French later moved her remains to the tomb of queen Rasoherina.

5 Other Interesting Facts About Her

1. Her Bethrotal To Radama Was Her Fathers Prize For Saving The King

Long before the idea of ascending the throne was conceived, her father saved the king’s life. He revealed a plan to assassinate the king by his uncle.

As payment for the act, King Andrianampoinimerina the Great brought Ranavalona to court and betrothed her to his heir, Prince Radama.

The king also promised the throne to a child from the union of his son and Ranavalona.

2. She Is Called The Mad Queen of Madagascar

Ranavalona ruled for 33 years and during this time, many people lost their lives. The population of Madagascar was at about 5 million but it went down to 2.5 million people at the end of her reign.

Even before sitting on the throne, she killed many rivals including Rakotobe and his mother. Rakotobe was the son of the king’s older sister who was in line to take the throne.

His uncle, Radama I had no child with Queen Ranavalona. The issue of the throne was an unfinished one at the dead of Radam I. In order to avoid the taboo of shedding royal blood, Rakotobe’s mother starved to death.

3. Queen Ranavalona Pushed The Colonial Powers Away

Queen Ranavalona I had an anti-colonial position. She practiced isolationism to grow the economy of Madagascar.

The idea of allowing foreigners into her kingdom stood against the traditional religion of the people. Christianity was a great threat to the worship of Malagasy gods.

4. Queen Ranavalona Had One Son

She gave birth to a son, Prince Rakoto in the early part of her reign. The identity of his real father is not very clear. Officially he was the son of her first husband, Radama I but Rakoto was born 11 months after Radama’s death.

Many sources point to Andriamihaja, her chief adviser as the father of her son. Andriamihija was a close adviser who lost his life in the queen’s service through palace intrigues.

She signed his death warrant after getting drunk. This gave way to her marriage to Raihiharo. He later became the Prime minister.

5. Her Great-Niece Was The Last  Monarch Of Madagascar

Ranavalona III was the last monarch of Madagascar before the final takeover by the French. Ranavalona III was not as strong-willed as her great-aunt by marriage who fought the colonial powers to the end.

She accepted a French protectorate in Madagascar so she could keep her throne but in the end, she was also exiled. In 1896, the Kingdom came under French protection as the Malagasy Protectorate. This marked the end of monarchies in Madagascar.

The post Queen Ranavalona – Life And Death Of The Queen: Facts About Her appeared first on WeAfrique.

While many may not realize the danger she put her life in speaking out against apartheid in South Africa, those that experienced it know how dangerous it was to speak against it.

Her life is and the impacts she made cannot be forgotten in a hurry. There are many interesting facts that you should know about Helen Joseph.

Biography Of Helen Joseph

Helen Beatrice May Fennel was born on 8 April 1905 in Easebourne, West Sussex, England. She came from a middle-class English family as her father, Samuel Fennel was a customs and Excise officer. Along with her brother, She grew up in Sussex.

Helen was 87 at the time of her death.

During her childhood, she experienced racial prejudice right from home. This may have been the beginning of her dislike for racism.

She obtained her degree in English from the University of London. She graduated in 1927 from the school’s King’s College London. Her move to India was in pursuit of a career but she was there for three years.

She taught at an all-girls school in Mahbubia, Hyderabad. Helen intended to return home from India and followed South Africa, she settled in Durban and never remained the same again.

See Also: Daddy Freeze Adultery Case and Top 10 Controversies About The OAP

Henry Joseph Marriage

Helen met her husband, Billie Joseph in 1931 in Durban shortly after arriving in South Africa on her way home.

Their relationship though having an age difference of seventeen years led to marriage in the same year. Billie was a Jew, he was also 17 years older than Helen and a dentist at the time.

She and Billie divorced shortly after the war. Their marriage did not produce any children.

Helen Joseph Health And Death

While she never backed down, Helen suffered from cancer and had to undergo surgery in 1971.  She narrowly escaped death on many occasions as bombs and her properties were often destroyed.

The cause of her death was linked to a stroke she suffered weeks before her death.

Her frail health led to her hospitalization in 1992. Prisoners that had been released from Robben island raised their glasses to her. She died shortly after on 25 December 1992.

10 Fascinating Facts You Never Knew About Her

1. Helen Joseph Served In The Air Force During World War II

She served as an information and welfare officer in the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force during World War II.

Her time there made her focus her life in a new direction. She was stationed at Pretoria where she taught women about the government system in the country. For the first time, she came in contact with the harsh reality of apartheid.

2. Her Friendship With Dorothy Stubs

Her earliest acquaintances in the port of Durband include Dorothy Stubbs, a school teacher at Clifton school Durban. After they became friendly, it paved the way for Helen’s teaching career at the school.

Stubb’s father, Harry Stubbs was the headmaster of the school and when his daughter was leaving to get married, he offered the position to Helen.

Helen taught at the school from 1930 to 1931.

3. Helen Joseph Trained As A Social Worker

Her time serving with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force brought her close to the reality of Apartheid.

She later trained as a social worker and devoted her time to campaign for women’s and people’s rights.

4. She Led 20,000 WomenAgainst Government Pass Laws

Ever wondered how women’s day was celebrated in South Africa with the slogan ‘You strike a woman, you strike a rock? Well, on 9 august 1956, 20000 women came out in mass as a rock to speak out against the government pass laws.

To strike their point, they were made up of women from all walks of life and race. Helen was at the forefront as one of the founders of the Federation of South African women.

Do you know that this day is still celebrated as National Women’s day In South Africa?

5. Accused Of Committing Treason During The Apartheid Trason Trial

Alongside other fighters, Helen was tried by the government for treason after the freedom charter was adopted.

She was found guilty of high treason in 1956 and banned from public opposition of the government in speech and protest.

All those accused were found not guilty in 1961 when the trial ended.

6. The First person to Be Placed Under House Arrest In South Africa

Helen was a real threat to the apartheid regime. She broke the record as the first person to be placed under house arrest in South African History. Under the Sabotage Act

After she was charged with treason. She was under house arrest from 1962 till she turned 1985 after 23 years in confinement.

7. Helen Joseph And Nelson Mandela Were Great Friends

It takes one to know another of its kind. During their lifetime, Helen and Mandela were great friends. Stemming from their passion to fight inequality, campaign for democracy and unity, the two became close friends.

At her death, Mandela was one of the most affected. He described her as ‘…an indelible part of our history.

8. Helen Was Active In The Garment Workers Union

She was a firebrand in speaking out against inequality. In Cape Town, while walking as a social worker, she joined the Garment Workers Union.

Not to be stopped, she helped to found the Congress of Democrats which became a close ally of the ANC in fighting apartheid.

A key point of her activism was in 1955 when she read the Freedom Charter in Kliptown at the Congress of the People.

9. She Stood In For Children Whose Parents Were In Prison

Throughout her lifetime, Helen had no children of her own. However, she stood in for children of prison inmates as if they were hers.

Many came to see her as a mother figure and celebrated her on mother’s day. Among the children that she took care of were; Winnie and Nelson Mandela’s children, Zinzi and Zenani as well as Bram Fischer’s daughter.

10. Open Day On Christmas

Every Christmas, she invited other freedom fighters to her home and they toasted their glasses at noon to prisoners held at Robben Island.

Those at Robben island may have learned of the ritual as it showed on the day she died.

Helen Joseph Legacy

The true purpose is fulfilled long after we have left this world. It stands against time in the impact made for generations unborn.

Helen Joseph left her birthplace in England and made South Africa her home. Even at the risk of losing her life, she spoke out against an unjust system that was destructive to lives.

in 1992, Helens was honored with the Isitwalandwe/Seaparankwe medal in recognition of her work by the ANC.

The Anglican Church of South Africa honored her too. It is not uncommon to see buildings, roads, and many sites named after the great woman who left a lasting legacy for generations unborn.

The Helen Joseph Memorial hospital in Johannesburg is named after her.

The post Helen Joseph Was A Famous South African Activist – 10 Facts About Her appeared first on WeAfrique.

She is deeply into the religious and political grooming of other members, she has been referred to as the First lady of the Nation Of Islam due to her marriage to its leader Loius Farrakhan. Alongside her and her husband, other members of her family hold important positions within the Nation of Islam. The facts about her life Khadijah and her family will give more insight into the NOI.

Biography And Family Of Khadijah Farrakhan

Khadijah Farrakhan was born Betsy Ross in the United States of America but later changed it after she and her husband got converted. After her conversion, she attended Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization class alongside the wife of Malcolm X, Betty Shabazz.

She and Louis Farrakhan, born Louis Eugene Walcot got married in 1953 and were blessed with 9 children. In June 2018, they announced the passing away of their son, Louis Farrakhan Jn.

Not much is known about her early childhood, parents or schools attended and much of what is known about her is with regards to her marriage to Louis Farrakhan.

Her daughter, Donna Farrakhan Muhammad is the second Woman Minister for NOI.

See Also: Karen McCollum: Where In God’s Name Is Scottie Pippen’s Ex-wife? 5 Facts

Other Interesting Facts You Should Know About Her

1.Khadijah Farrakhan And Her Husband Converted Shortly After Marriage

The couple married in 1953 and converted to the Nation of Islam in 1955, two years after their marriage. They upheld their belief such that they became active members that were recruiting others.

2.She Received Her Holy Name In 1985

As is the practice of NOI from inception, members are to change their given ‘white’ names and adopt new ones except if they are African. From the time of its founding in the 1930s under Wallace Fard, new converts and members have continually dropped their given names to mark dissociation from ‘white’ slavery of ‘black’ ancestors.

They used surnames marked by X as a memorial to all those enslaved pending when they get a new name. The changing of name is symbolic of dissociation from white slavery than a religious connotation, simply put it is a political action.

In 1985, Khadijah Farrakhan changed her name from Betsy Ross to Khadijah in conformity to the practice of her new religion.

3.Khadijah, Mother Khadijah and First Lady

She is mostly referred to as mother Khadijah or Firslady due to her marriage to the NoI Leader. It had not always been so till her husband broke away with his own faction away from Wallace Muhammad’s faction.

In 1976, Louis Farrakhan reestablished the nation of Islam and brought in new ideas some of which stemmed more controversies. As the leading figure for the Nation of Islam, his wife has also played key roles within the organization.

Followers designate her Mother Khadijah since she is the mother figure and as the wife of the supreme leader, she is the First lady of NOI.

4.Khadijah Farrakhan and Loius Have Been Married For Almost 70 Years

In September 2020, Louis Farrakhan and Khadijah Farrakhan celebrated the 67th anniversary of their wedding as well as the wedding of their great-granddaughter at Mosque Maryam.

It was a joyous occasion for the couple as it also marked the wedding of their great-granddaughter, Dr. Ruqayyah Farrakhan, and her husband, Jeffrey Muhammad.

5.Balancing Controversies

The NOI has been a controversial movement but even more apparent is its disdain for women pursuing a career or being active publicly.

Women and men are differentiated during their worship with men sitting to the left and women situated to the right. This level of sexism has always featured the actions of the NOI.

The 1995 One Million More March on Washington Mall is another instance of sexism, however, Khadijah holds a place of high esteem within the NOI, can this be balanced or does it reflect the deep disdain for women in NOI, or perhaps can it be seen as another example of the controversial nature of NOI ideology?

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6.Khadijah Farrakhan Was The ‘New’ Nations First Secretary And Treasurer

After Khadijah’s husband embarked on rebuilding a new NOI, they opened up their Chicago home as a study and meeting center.

She became the first secretary and Treasurer in 1977, Khadijah Farrakhan used her managerial skills in running the new responsibilities. As the organization grew, she had more responsibilities. She helped in raising funds, hosting first ladies from African countries as well as addressing women’s meetings like the Women Million March in 1997.

7. Her Husband Was Accused Of Malcolm X Murder

Khadijah Farrakhan’s husband was accused of the murder of former NOI prominent promoter, Malcolm X. It was Malcolm that prompted the conversion of Loius, but later Malcolm condemned the movement when he made startling revelations of hypocrisy on the part of its then-leader, Elijah Muhammad.

Malcolm wanted to leave the movement because of its ideology and perceived hypocrisy.  Elijah Muhammad had fathered many children with his teenage secretaries while he preached against extramarital affairs. Also, he was inclined towards an orthodox Islam.

Loius reacted badly and said a man like Malcolm deserved to die. This statement linked him to the murder of Malcolm X. In a 2000 interview with Malcolm’s daughter Qubilah, he regretted his statement and admitted it might have led to the murder.

Qubila said she didn’t forgive him but hopes he has peace.

The complete profile of Khadjiha Farrakhan

The post Khadijah Farrakhan- Bio, Family, 7 Facts About Louis Farrakhan’s Wife appeared first on WeAfrique.

The former wife of the 4th democratically elected president of South Africa was a rude shock to her family and close ones. Though her husband was not yet a president at the time, he went on to be elected as South Africa’s president.

Biography Of Kate Mantsho

Kate Mantsho was born in 1956 and is originally from Mozambique. She and Jacob Zuma got married in 1976 and remained so till her death in 2000.

She had five children with him;  Saady who was born in 1980, the twins Duduzane and Duduzile born in 1984, Phumzile born in 1989 and Vusi.

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Kate Mantsho Death

Kate Mantsho and Jacob Zuma’s marriage was a troubled one, she left a suicide note with the then Director-General in the Presidency, Rev. Frank Chikane on the day she died which described her marriage as ’24 years in hell’.

On the 8th of December, 2000, there was a distress call by the domestics to her son Duduzane pertaining to something happening in the then deputy president’s official residence, Oliver Thambo House in Pretoria. Upon reaching her, he found her non-responsive and foaming on the mouth, however, she left a note.

The suicide note has continued to generate a lot of controversies as different sides involved, notably, Frank Chikane and the Zuma family have thrown accusations at each other. In a recent zoom meeting, part of the Zooming with the Zuma’s, Duduzane in an interview with his father said the last time he saw the letter was in the hand of Chikane.

Chikane has refuted claims of being called a liar by restating the events leading to her death in which he was called by the depressed late Kate Mantsho to tell him she had taken an overdose of Antimalarial drugs but upon his arrival, he called an ambulance and wondered why one had not been called.

She was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital, he later had to relay the information to her husband who had been on a business trip.

She tried talking to him and told one of the sons to pick a letter, which turned out to be the suicide note, which he never leaked to the press.

It seems the content of the suicide note was revealed by the police since it was attached to the docket. She was laid to rest at Heroes Acre in Westpark Cemetry in Johannesburg in a state funeral.

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Here Are 8 Fast Facts About Kate Mantsho

1.Kate Mantsho Is One Of His Numerous Wives

Till date, 6 women have been linked to being wives of Jacob Zuma aside from his fiances and other women not publicly acknowledged.

Kate Mantsho was his second wife and at the time of her death in 2000, he was married to three other women.

2.She Was His First Wife To Have A Child

At the time of her marriage to Jacob Zuma, he was already married to his first wife, Gertrude Sizakele Khumalo who did not have children. In 1980, Kate Mantsho had their first child, however, by then, the polygamous Zuma had a child through an extramarital affair with Minah Shongwe.

3.Kate Mantsho Had 5 Children With Jacob Zuma

Within the 24 year period of her marriage to Jacob Zuma, Kate Mantsho had five children. Her children were still young at the time of her death in 2000 but still have memories of their mother.

Among her 5 children, the twins, Duduzane and Duduzile are so vocal in their defense of their father.

4.She Committed Suicide

In president Mbeki’s address, he said she died from a heart attack but later investigations showed she had died from an overdose that caused the heart attack.

Mbeki’s message was in no way trying to undermine the cause of her death but it was said before the post mortem was done.

5.Jacob Zuma Was Barred From Attending Her funeral

The contents of her suicide note barred her husband from attending her funeral as she wanted only her dear children, maternal family, and a few members of the Zuma family.

6.Kate Mantsho Son Duduzane Is The Closest To The Father

Of all of Jacob Zuma’s  20 children, Duduzane seems to be the closest to him. Duduzane is very vocal about his support for his father and has had to field some controversies surrounding his father’s time in and out of office.

In 2018, his passport was seized when he returned home for a family gathering, Prior to that his Porsche had collided with a taxi in 2014 leading to the deads of two persons, though investigations were opened, he was acquitted.

His conversations with his father in Zooming With The Zuma’s to clear issues keep sparking controversies.

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7.What Was Kate Mantsho Net Worth

At the time of her death, her husband was the deputy president of South Africa. It is not known if she was engaged in other business activities or professional life but what is certain is the fact that as president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma’s family enjoyed privileges from the state treasury, perhaps higher than any other president before him. It is estimated that R54.6 was spent on his wives.

Jacob Zuma is worth about $20 million and is considered one of the richest politicians in South Africa.

8.Duduzane, Kate Mantsho Son Defends Father’s Polygamy

In the wake of fathering a child outside wedlock, the nation was aghast as to why the then-president could not practice the values of safe sex in the face of high prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS scourge in South Africa.

Opinions varied as to the moral and health implications of unprotected sex with an unmarried spouse on the president’s side while he was at the forefront of the campaign to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Following allegations of Jacob Zuma’s anti-HIV/AIDS prevention campaign through safe sex, Duduzane has publicly decried the insensitivity of talking about his father’s private matters. He defended his father’s polygamy by stating that they are ready to share their father.

The post Kate Mantsho Was One of Jacob Zuma’s 6 Wives- Her Life, Death, 8 Facts appeared first on WeAfrique.

Biography of Owuraku Amofah

On February 8, 1956, Emmanuel Owuraku Amofah was born in Kibi or Kyebi as it is alternatively spelt – a small town in modern day Ghana. As a young child, he admitted to being really ambitions and inquisitive, which prompted his desire to study law at the University of Ghana and later Brooklyn Law School in America.

Owuraka Amofah is a relation to the current Ghanaian President, Akufo Addo, who is his uncle. Through his years in Ghana, the vibrant lawyer has carved a name for himself, especially in Ghanaian politics, where he is a big stakeholder. In 1992, he founded Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE), a party whose youthful population has influenced decisions in the country.

Also, he has also served as a member of the Parliament of Ghana, representing the Abuakwa Central constituency from 1992 to 1996. And his position as deputy communication minister and deputy tourism minister proved his mettle and involvement in the country’s politics.

Before going into mainstream politics, as a young man, Owuraku Amafoh worked as an Attorney at Amofah Law Firm, Administrative Law Judge at City Parking Violation Bureau, and also CEO of Parking Ticket Busters in New York.

Owuraku Amofah Lost Two Of His Songs

The renowned Ghanaian politician is a father of many, but keeps his family and personal life private and out of the public domain. But, when tragedy struck the Amofah family in 2010 and 2019, and the story of his sons Randy and Desmond Amofah, filled the headlines and became subjects of discussions. It is important to note that, of all Owuraku Amofah’s children, Desmond and Randy were the popular ones, because of their career paths.

Earlier in 2010, Randy Amofah had died from a sandstorm attack while driving in Ghana. It was discovered that Randy was asthmatic and his loss dealt a huge blow for the famous Ghanaian politician.

Meanwhile, nine years later, another of his son, Desmond Amofah, a popular YouTuber and Streamer based in the US and popularly associated with his online moniker, Etika, was confirmed dead, in yet another mysterious situation. It happened that on June 20, 2019, his colleagues and family had reported Desmond missing and four days later, precisely in the evening of June 24, 2019, the New York City Police Department found his body along the East River, and after medical identification and investigation was carried on the body, he was pronounced dead the following day.

Owuraku Amofah Has Not Escaped Some Controversies

As a shrewd politician, Owuraku Amofah has been involved in so many controversies, with most having to do with his political journey and a few others, pertaining to his businesses. He was once involved in a feud with the late former Ghanaian president and father of the Ghana Revolution, Jerry Rawlings in 2000. Their rivalry was borne out of the fact that Owuraku Amofah had suggested Obed Asamoah as running mate to Jerry Rawlings and the latter’s refusal will result in a public spate of words between the two Ghanaian political heavyweights.

One time, their verbal exchanges were reported to have gotten too far and resulted in a slight physical brawl that saw Owuraku slam the door on Rawling’s finger and this forced him into exile in the US. Later on, reports came in that, Owuraku Amafoh had an agreement with Obed Asamoah taking money from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be appointed Owuraku into a government position, should he get into the then Jerry Rawlings government.

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In 2017, he was charged with falsification of documents in the United States. For illegally altering documents in his various parking ticket cases, and using his influence as Judge to cheat the company of a whopping $100,000 in fines.

Before the 2016 Presidential elections held in Ghana, Owuraku Amofah was consistently in the news. Although he had initially backed and endorsed his uncle, Nana Akuffo Addo to run for the number one seat in the country, weeks to the election, Owuraku Amafoh was everywhere granting interviews and press briefing, stating why Nana Akufo Addo should not be elected. Even, he referred to Nana as the worst president the country will have.

Complete profile of Owuraku Amofah

The post Owuraku Amofah – Sad Details About the Ghanaian Politician, His Sons, and Controversies appeared first on WeAfrique.