Much has been made of Samia’s lack of her own political constituency an evaluation which Lissu did not refute.
“She is weak in that she does not have a political power base. She is a Zanzibari at a time when the Union is under pressure. For a Zanzibari president to preside over non-Union matters will raise many of the same questions that were asked at the end of Mwinyi’s presidency,” Lissu said, referring to Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who became Tanzania’s second president (1985-1995) after serving nearly two years as president of Zanzibar and was accused of favoring Muslim and Zanzibari interests while in office.
The Joe Biden administration has announced it will establish the first-ever White House Gender Policy Council to coordinate federal efforts to advance gender equity and equality at home and abroad. How will this new Council shape U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy and address the devastating effects of COVID-19 on women and girls globally? Jennifer Klein, the incoming co-chair of the Gender Policy Council, will speak about the administration’s priorities and plans to advance women’s issues around the world.
Organization (WTO), the trade body’s top leadership position, former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala quickly became the universal favorite to land the top job except for among members of the Trump administration.
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon discusses her new book, The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice. In an unlikely showdown in northeastern Syria in 2014, an all-female militia faced off against ISIS in the little-known town of Kobani. From this conflict emerged a fighting force that would wage war against ISIS across northern Syria. The Daughters of Kobani introduces the women fighting on the front lines, playing a central role in the territorial defeat of ISIS and, in the process, they worked to make women’s equality a reality. The Daughters of Kobani shines a light on a group of women intent on not only defeating the Islamic State on the battlefield, but also changing women’s lives in their corner of the Middle East and beyond.The CFR Fellows’ Book Launch series highlights new books by CFR fellows.
Print Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas addresses the press following her oath of office. Janis Laizans/REUTERS
Blog Post
Blog posts represent the views of CFR fellows and staff and not those of CFR, which takes no institutional positions.
This week s post was compiled by Elena Ortiz, intern with the Women and Foreign Policy program at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Estonia Ushers in First Female Prime Minister
This week, Kaja Kallas became Estonia’s first female Prime Minister. Alongside President Kersti Kaljulaid, the Baltic country now has women serving as both the Head of Government and Head of State. Kallas is a member of the center-right Reform party and her nomination marks the end of a government headed by Juri Ratas and the far-right EKRE party, which recently collapsed in a corruption scandal. Her historic appointment also ushers in six female cabinet members, including Keit Pentus-Rosimannus as Minister of Finance and Eva-Maria Liime