First Lady, Guest of Honor at Workshop To Validate WiM-Africa’s 2025–2030 Action Plan

The First Lady, Dr. Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah, participated as a guest of honor at the workshop to validate the action plan of the Association of Women in Mining Africa 2025–2030 (WiM-Africa) for the period 2025–2030, organized on 25 September by this continental platform.

The First Lady delivered a speech via videoconference, in which she praised the ambitious and inclusive approach adopted by the Association, guest of honor at the workshop to validate the WiM-Africa’s action plan, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the role of African women in the mining sector, with a focus on added value, leadership, and economic empowerment, in line with the continent’s broad guidelines and the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Here is the First Lady’s speech:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honor and a pleasure for me to participate in this important meeting. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the First Ladies present today and extend my warmest thanks to the African Women in Mining Association for its kind invitation and the excellent organization of this important forum.

This workshop is not only a validation of an action plan, but a historic moment where African women are uniting across borders to shape the future of a sector of paramount importance and precision, namely the mining sector.

Throughout the ages, African women have been more than mere participants in development; they have always been its beating heart. The empowerment of women is not a favor or a preference, but a recognition of the place they already occupy.

In Mauritania, this conviction has been translated into concrete and clear measures; women occupy 30% of government seats, reflecting a strong political will. In addition, we have strengthened laws guaranteeing seats for women in parliament, and we have directed investment toward vocational and technical training to enable young women to specialize in fields such as mining, geology, engineering, and energy.

Thanks to these initiatives, Mauritanian women have become key partners and pillars of leadership in the transformation process.

At the continental level, the mining sector is undergoing profound changes in a context of increased global competition and our peoples’ growing aspirations for inclusive and equitable growth. In this context, women’s participation is no longer a secondary option, but an urgent development necessity.

Among the priorities of the action plan, I am particularly proud of the fifth axis: “Investing in the preparation of women leaders in the mining sector,” an orientation that aligns perfectly with the national agenda led by His Excellency, the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Dear participants,

The rebirth of Africa will not be the work of men alone, nor of women alone, but will be born of their shared determination and the synergy of their efforts.

From this platform, I reaffirm the continued support of Mauritania, its President, its government, and its people for all initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of African women in the mining sector and in all areas of development.

As we endorse this plan today, let us remember that we are not simply putting in place a technical document, but laying the foundations for a new legacy in which the place of African women is consolidated as an essential pillar of the development process.

I pray to Allah that this meeting will be another building block for a brighter future,

and that Allah’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.”

The First Lady’s participation embodies our country’s strong commitment to supporting all regional and international initiatives aimed at consolidating the principle of equal opportunities and promoting sustainability and innovation in this strategic sector for the continent’s development.

This high-level meeting brought together First Ladies from several African sisterly and friendly countries, as well as representatives from more than 50 national chapters and institutional and private partners.

The organization’s action plan (2025–2030) includes a financial envelope of US$150 million, the development of mining areas dedicated to women, the creation of women’s cooperatives integrated into the value chains of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the implementation of specific programs to prevent gender-based violence, and the training of 100,000 women and young people over the next five years.