Maïmouna Sourang Ndir (born 3 October 1952) is a

Senegalese Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...

politician who served in various government ministry positions as well as being Senegal's ambassador to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

from 2009 to 2012.

Early life and education

Ndir was born on 3 October 1952 in

Saint-Louis, Senegal Saint Louis or Saint-Louis ( wo, Ndar), is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially ...

. Her mother is writer

Fatou Niang Siga Fatou Niang Siga (1932-2022) was a Senegalese author and schoolteacher. She was a Mouride Muslim and has made the hajj to Mecca twice. She was married and had twelve children. Her daughter Maïmouna Sourang Ndir served as Senegal's ambassador t ...

. She received a master's degree in social sciences from

Université Laval Université Laval is a public research university in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The university was founded by royal charter issued by Queen Victoria in 1852, with roots in the founding of the Séminaire de Québec in 1663 by François de Montmo ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

in 1996.

Career

Ndir worked within the Ministry of Social Development before being appointed as Minister in 2002 in the first

Idrissa Seck Idrissa Seck (born August 9, 1959) is a Senegalese politician who was Prime Minister of Senegal from November 2002 to July 2004. He was a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) and was considered a protégé of President Abdoulay ...

government. She then served as Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Microfinance and Minister of the Living Environment and Public Health under

Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré (born 1951
.) was Senegalese Democratic Party The Senegalese Democratic Party (french: Parti démocratique sénégalais) is a political party in Senegal. The party considers itself a liberal party and is a member of the Liberal International. Abdoulaye Wade, who was President of Senegal from ...

. In 2009, Ndir was appointed ambassador of Senegal to France,

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...

and

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...

by President

Abdoulaye Wade Abdoulaye Wade (born 29 May 1926)
Encyclopedia of the Nations. Retrieved February 28, ...

, seen as one of the country's most significant postings. The first woman to hold this post, her appointment was criticised due to her lack of diplomatic experience. She was recalled by to

Dakar Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar metropolitan area is estimated at 3.94 million in 2 ...

by the new government in April 2012, along with a number of other non-career diplomat ambassadors.

Awards and honors

Ndir has been made a Commander of the Senegalese Order of Merit, Commander of the

Order of Saint-Charles The Order of Saint Charles (french: Ordre de Saint Charles) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in Monaco on 15 March 1858. Award This order rewards service to the State or Prince. In particular cases, it may be granted to foreign ...

of Monaco and Grand Officer of the

French National Order of Merit French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ndir, Maïmouna Sourang Living people 1952 births People from Saint-Louis, Senegal Université Laval alumni Senegalese women diplomats Senegalese Democratic Party politicians Ambassadors of Senegal to France Social affairs ministers of Senegal Health ministers of Senegal Ambassadors of Senegal to Monaco Commanders of the Order of Saint-Charles Grand Officers of the Ordre national du Mérite Ambassadors of Senegal to Andorra Women government ministers of Senegal Women ambassadors 21st-century Senegalese women politicians 21st-century Senegalese politicians