Camara elected Ivory Coast Senate president
Kandia Kamissoko Camara, a former English teacher and minister, has been elected president of the Ivorian Senate.
Kandia Kamissoko Camara, born in Abidjan in 1959, assumed the presidency of the Senate of Ivory Coast on October 12, 2023. She is also the mayor of Abobo. Before her current role, Camara had a career as an English teacher for nearly 20 years and served as the minister of National Education for a decade. She was also the first woman to lead the country's foreign affairs.
Camara's background includes a notable period as a competitive handball player, winning the Ivorian championship in 1974 and 1980, and the African Clubs Champions Cup in 1981. After her athletic career, she pursued higher education, earning an English degree from the University of Abidjan and a certificate in advanced education studies from the University of Lancaster in England. She began teaching in 1983.
Her political journey began with the Ivorian Popular Front (PDCI) before she joined the Rally of Republicans (RDR) in 1994. Camara held significant positions within the RDR's women's wing and served as a special advisor to the Prime Minister. In 2011, she was appointed Minister of National Education, a position she held until April 2021, overseeing technical education and vocational training during her tenure.
Why it mattersIvorian citizens are affected by the election of a new Senate president who previously held significant ministerial roles.