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Minata Samaté Cessouma

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Minata Samaté Cessouma
Commissioner for the African Union Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development
In office
15 October 2021 – February 2025
Succeeded byAmma Twum-Amoah
Personal details
Born14 July 1961
N'Dorola, Burkina Faso
Children4
ResidenceBurkina Faso
Alma materParis 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University
University of Ouagadougou
National School of Administration and Magistracy
OccupationDiplomat

Minata Samaté Cessouma (born 14 July 1961) is a Burkinabè diplomat. She served as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ethiopia and Rwanda, Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), and as Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Samaté was also formerly the AU's Commissioner for Political Affairs, then Commissioner for the African Union Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS). She has also worked as Diplomatic Advisor to the President of Burkina Faso and as State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation [fr] for Burkina Faso.

Biography

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Samaté was born on 14 July 1961 in N'Dorola, Burkina Faso.[1][2] She has studied at the Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, the University of Ouagadougou and the National School of Administration and Magistracy in Ouagadougou.[3]

Samaté is a career diplomat and began her civil service career in 1994.[3] She served as Charge d’affairs of the Embassy Burkina Faso from October 1997 to August 2003.[4]

Samaté was Diplomatic Advisor to the President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré, from November 2003 to June 2007.[4]

Samaté was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation for Burkina Faso from June 2007 to April 2011.[1][4][5] In this role, she chaired the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers and Mediation and Security Council (MSC), as well serving as co-chair of ECOWAS's European Union Troika Meetings.[4] ECOWAS is one of the pillar regional blocs of the continent-wide African Economic Community (AEC).

Samaté was appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ethiopia and Rwanda with residence in Addis Ababa in September 2011,[6] presenting her credentials to President of Rwanda Paul Kagame.[7] She was also appointed Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).[3][8] She held these roles until May 2014.[4] In 2012, Samaté launched a Special Peace and Security Award for the annual Pan-African Film and Television Festival in Ouagadougou on behalf of the AU.[9]

Samaté was Director of the Joint Coordination Mechanism for Support to the United Nations/African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur, Sudan, (JSCM/UNAMID), from June 2014 to July 2015.[4][10] She was elected as the Commissioner for Political Affairs at the AU from 2017 to 2021.[11][12][13][14]

In 2019, Samaté was named among the inaugural "List of 100 Most Influential African Women" by Avance Media.[15] In February 2020, she launched the book She Stands for Peace: 20 Years, 20 Journeys with Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union, Hanna Tetteh, at an event in Addis Ababa.[16]

Samaté at the European Union-African High-Level evenement on health event in 2024, held at Egmont Palace in Brussels, Belgium
Samaté at the Team Europe mission on Health event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

On 15 October 2021, Samaté was elected Commissioner for the Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the AU,[17][18][19][20] with 45 out of 46 votes.[21] Samaté served until February 2025 and was suceeded by Ghanian diplomat Amma Twum-Amoah. In the role, in February 2023 Samaté represented the AU as a signer of a "Memorandum of Understanding to foster collaboration and support Africa’s efforts to end AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) by 2030," alongside a representative from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF).[22] She also endorsed the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association's African Viral Hepatitis Convention,[23] has spoken at events on "Investing in African Health Security,"[24] and has praised health related cooperation between the nations of Africa and China.[25]

In 2023, Samaté signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the AU, with Vivienne Lawack of the University of the Western Cape, to work in partnership with the university towards the "Africa Union Agenda 2063" including launching a new Master degree in Migration Studies.[26]

Samaté also met with heads of state, such as the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé,[27] urged African states to donating art objects and previously looted African cultural property to the Great Museum of Africa[28] and formalised a partnerships between the AU and music organisations including the annual All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)[29][30][31] and the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF).[32]

In 2024, Samaté was appointed to the Board of Directors of non-profit organisation Nutrition International.[8][33] She has spoken at international events including the 2024 Science Summit in New York, Unite States.[10] In June 2025, Samaté was elected Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) board, succeeding Adolphine Kateka.[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b "H.E. Cessouma Minata Samate". African Union. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  2. ^ European Centre for Electoral Support (31 December 2020). Cessouma Minata Samate, Commissioner for Political Affairs of the African Union. Retrieved 27 July 2025 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ a b c "Afrique: Cessouma Minata Samate, le visage du développement à l'UA". Africa24 TV (in French). 5 April 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "H.E. Cessouma Minata Samaté". Wilson Center. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ^ Rupley, Lawrence; Bangali, Lamissa; Diamitani, Boureima (2013). Historical Dictionary of Burkina Faso. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-8108-6770-3.
  6. ^ "Minata Samaté-Cessouma, ambassadeur à Addis Abeba : L'occasion pour le Burkina Faso de faire à nouveau entendre sa voix sur la scène diplomatique africaine". Lefaso.net (in French). 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  7. ^ "President Kagame receives credentials of five new African envoys". Paul Kagame. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Her Excellency, Ambassador Minata Samaté Cessouma". Nutrition International. 14 November 2024. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  9. ^ Kodjo, Tchioffo. "The African Union and Burkina Faso Launch a Special Peace and Security Award for the Ouagadougou Pan-African Film and Television Festival-African Union - Peace and Security Department". African Union, Peace and Security Department. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b "H. E. Amb. Cessouma Minata Samete African Union". SCHED. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Madame Minata SAMATE/CESSOUMA élue Commissaire aux Affaires politiques de l'Union Africaine". Lefaso.net (in French). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Commissioner for Political Affairs, Minata Samate Cessouma". International IDEA. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  13. ^ Okogba, Emmanuel (25 November 2017). "Africa must address refugee crisis to ensure development — AU Commissioner". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  14. ^ Yearbook on the African Union Volume 4 (2023). BRILL. 11 November 2024. ISBN 978-90-04-71314-7.
  15. ^ "100Women H.E Cessouma Minata Samate". Avance Media. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  16. ^ "She Stands for Peace Book". United Nations. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Union africaine : Minata Samaté élue Commissaire à la Santé, aux Affaires Humanitaires et au Développement Social". Lefaso.net (in French). Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Africa: AU Commends Ethiopia's Nutrition Strategy to Ensure Wellbeing of Adolescents, Youth". Ethiopian News Agency. 3 September 2024. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  19. ^ Harbeson, John W.; Rothchild, Donald (23 June 2023). Africa in World Politics: Sustaining Reform in a Turbulent World Order. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-89208-6.
  20. ^ "UA: Minata Samaté/Cessouma élue Commissaire à la Santé, aux Affaires Humanitaires et au Développement Social". elitesfemmes.com (in French). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  21. ^ Okelo, Jean Bedel (15 October 2021). "Diplomatie: Minata Samate-Cessouma a été élue Commissaire à la Santé, aux Affaires Humanitaires et au Développement Social de l'UA". Aconews (in French). Archived from the original on 24 March 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  22. ^ "African Union and EGPAF sign a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate to end AIDS and TB in children". Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Endorsement from Ambassador Minata Samaté Cessouma, the African Union Health Commissioner". International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA). Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  24. ^ Joseph, Sherene (29 July 2025). "FP Event: Investing in African Health Security". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  25. ^ "AU health official hails China-Africa cooperation, calling for deepening ties". english.news.cn. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  26. ^ "UWC signs historic Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union". Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Le chef de l'Etat a échangé avec le commissaire de l'UA Minata Cessouma Samaté – Togo-Presse". togopresse.tg (in French). Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Mme Minata Samate Cessouma, commissaire de l'Union africaine : «La récupération des objets d'art pillés est un impératif»". El Moudjahid Culture. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  29. ^ "AFRICAN UNION FORMALIZES PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRIMA THROUGH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING". theBladeNG. 5 February 2025. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  30. ^ "AU Renews Collaboration with All-Africa Music Awards". Capital Newspaper. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  31. ^ "AU Renews Collaboration with All-Africa Music Awards". Ethiopian Monitor. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  32. ^ "African Union Signs a Partnership Agreement with Music in Africa Foundation". African Union. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  33. ^ Stefureak, Ashley (19 November 2024). "African Union Commissioner, Her Excellency Ambassador Minata Samaté Cessouma, joins the Board of Directors of Nutrition International". Nutrition International. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  34. ^ "ALMA welcomes H.E. Amb. Cessouma Minata Samate as new board chair". African Leaders Malaria Alliance. Archived from the original on 3 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
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