Mme. Sidibé Aminata Diallo

For the first time in Mali history, a woman decided to run for presidency. I had a chance to meet her through a work meeting. She seemed sincere, modeste and very aware of the challenge she faces being a female candidate in a male dominated traditional african country. A university professor who has formed her political party 2 years ago who concentrates on environmental issue a lot. She said that she knows Mali isn't ready for a female president, but it's time that someone (a woman) starts trying and hope to encourage other women to follow to get more involved in politics, so women's voices will be heard, women's issues will be considered, and eventually women's needs will be taken care of.

As soon as she declared her candidacy, there were rumors that the current president had "bought" her off to run for president. Each candidate must put out 10 million FCFA (=$20000), a lot for a malien. The amount is only returned to the candidate if he/she win 5 % of the total vote. Some people say that the current president paid for her to enter, so she will agree to run against him even if other candidates decide to boycott the election. If all the oppositions boycott the election, election cannot take place with just one candidate. A transitional government will take over to reorganize another election. Speculation or non? Who knows.

I do know through talking to many average malien men with broken french on both of our sides, that there are many of them who are afraid of educated women. (as I am writing this, I am thinking how is this that much different in "developped countries", same problem exists but at a different level) Many men would rather that their wives are not educated, so they will respect their husbands more, do whatever theirs husbands ask; once a woman is educated, she will be more demanding and has too much mind of her own. So, even she might be able to bring more money to home by being more educate and has a better paying job, the men would rather that they remain the only breadwinner of the family and poorer, but have more control over their wives. The culture here is still very traditional where man are suppose to take care of woman, provide for their wives and children. But the harsh reality is that it is harder and harder for a man to be able to support many wives but still pressured to by older generation and society to marry more than one, therefore most women try to engage in whatever income generating activities they can find, make food to sell on the streets, carry a bucket of fruits on their head and walk around selling them with a baby on their back, etc. In fact, african women are working hardest to provide for their family, so their kids can eat and go to school. Many of them might not have regular professional jobs, but oh my god do they work so hard, such long hours, in such harsh harsh conditions for their children, their families. So heart wrenching...

Just a note, here woman keeps her maiden name and add her husband's name in front of their first name. (Mme. = madame)