By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone`s First Lady, Sia Nyama Koroma, has been named the new President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (FLPM).
Mrs Koroma succeeds Nigeria`s outgoing First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who steps down next week when her husband hands over power.
Sia was elected to the position in absentia, at the eighth emergency gathering of the continent`s First Ladies in the Nigerian capital Abuja last week. According to reports, the Sierra Leone First Lady, who could not attend for unexplained reasons, was represented at the emergency summit by the First Lady of the Saharawi Democratic Republic, Prof. Khadija Hamdi.
A statement attributed to Mrs Koroma however cited her pledging to dedicate her term to the improvement of the living conditions of the women and children of the continent.
The FLPM was formed in 1995 with the aim of building a culture of peace on the continent. But it has also championed support and services to victims of conflict, with particular focus on women and children in armed conflict.
As an umbrella body of wives of African heads of state and governments, the AFLPM mandated itself to playing a support role to the African Union, as well as other regional organisations and national governments in efforts to foster peace and mitigating conflicts on the continent.
Dame Patience Jonathan, while handing over to the new president, promised to continue rendering her support to the organisation.
The AFLPM boasts of a land in the Nigerian capital Abuja and two bank accounts. The Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and documents relating to the bank accounts were handed over to Prof. Hamdi on behalf of Mrs Koroma by Mrs Jonathan.
© Politico 19/05/14
