Mariam Diallo has more than ten years experience as a leader in promoting youth leadership and gender equality. She has proven expertise on issues of gender, elections, politics and human rights. Mariam founded and Chaired the Association Women Leadership and Sustainable Development to promote gender equality among youth. She has a Pan-African experience with the African Union and she is a Member of the civil society consultative council of UN WOMEN. Engaged for Climate Justice, she is also a member of the Network of Human right defender in Mali. She received the Award of Merit in 2015. Sustyvibes recently caught up with her again to learn about her progress in the past two years when we last spoke with her.
Kindly tell us about the new projects and causes you have championed since our previous chat two years ago?
In the last two years, I have been involved in the fight against FGM, a harmful traditional practice that unfortunately continues to grow in Mali. Despite programs implemented for years, Female genital mutilation remains practiced at close to 89%. More and more, it is practiced to girls sometimes since they are babies. After a long reflection with our partners, we found that young people are not informed and involved in the fight. For example, a youth ambassador program has been put in place and we have allowed young people themselves to carry out awareness-raising activities and define their own targets and priorities. This approach has led to convincing results, particularly among “women excisors” some of whom have given up, and also among religious leaders who have joined forces with young people to denounce the practice. At a bigger level I got involved in advocating for the drafting of a bill that would penalize those engaged in the practice; this law is always pushed. By involving myself so much in the fight against excision, I understood that what I say often is more than founded; is perpetuating what hurts and makes girls suffer the only way to be worthy of our ancestors? I say no, we can convey values that underlie our society but reject what traumatizes and inhibits the physical and emotional development of girls.
In addition, in October 2018, I had the privilege of joining the Prime Minister’s Office as Head of Communications and Public Relations Department. After more than ten years in civil society, I’ve started my experience in the Malian public administration, in the decision making process. For me, it is an amazing experience where I am learning every day but also contributing with my experience. Sometimes the two find themselves confronted but I realize that the state has its realities, sometimes cruel. But in the end, decisions are made to serve the people and that is the duty of the state. So I am committed to this new environment and I am learning. I am the only woman in this department and also the boss. I have to redouble efforts because of the classic prejudices of women in the workplace; how did she end up here? What is behind it? The best answer I give is work hard, be an example and respect rules.
What are your plans for 2019?
For 2019, I will continue the mission that I was entrusted to the Prime Minister’s Office and at the same time, I continue to oversee the association that I founded, Association of Women Leadership and Sustainable Development (AFLED). This year we have already begun to broaden the base to reach more young women. We need a critical mass of young women to make sure our voices are heard.
What are your thoughts about the political whirlwind that has swept away some governments across Africa in recent times; particularly in countries like Sudan, Burkina Faso and your home country Mali?
You know first of all what I note as common point to these coup d’etat is the fact that all these leaders – Oumar El Bechir, Blaise Compaore and Amadou Toumani Toure – were Presidents who had lasted in power. They had a certain aura and national and international trust. What is striking is to see the “banal” and fast way they left. Imagine how a Blaise compaoré or ATT left their country. Who could forsee that? Unthinkable. The lesson is that whatever the legitimacy or the duration of a government, leaders must listen and hear the aspirations of their people because the people hold the power. The other thing is that the military powers are no longer tolerated and appreciated by us Africans. Although they are last ones to hold flags, making them rulers is decried. Mali, since the fall of Kaddhafi is facing multiple challenges especially as regards consolidating stability on its territory. In our countries, we must learn to count on our own strengths and to strengthen collaboration among sub regions (ECOWAS, UEMOA…). Our partners should also be more forthright with us by clearly telling us their intentions and avoid leading us into catastrophic patterns. It is also time that they understand that young people want a win-win partnerships; we are not fools. Sometimes we feel humiliated. We are sometimes forced to go in certain directions with total disregard for what we feel. We have to develop our ability to negotiate by saving our interest first and being responsible citizens.
Ethnic strife and political instability seem to cast a shadow on Africa’s progress; what practical steps can be taken to end these onerous challenges?
When I look at the case of Mali, there is no ethnic hatred between different groups. No one can assert that we hate each other and that certain ethnic groups are discriminated, it is false. Most often, these ethnic groups have more things in common than differences, but cohabitation sometimes becomes difficult. It has even become an African stereotype, as if to say that there are too many ethnic groups and that we do not love each other. When I see antagonisms between Scots and English it’s not a game that’s deep enough. In Mali we have the “synagouya” which protects us from that. It is a code of jokes between ethnic groups which prevents us from quarrels and others. We live in a globalized world where the economic situation is a big influence. We also depend on our climatic environment for sustenance. In the political game, all shots are allowed unfortunately. In the Center of Mali today the Fulani-Dogon cohabitation is undermined not by any hatred but because of the scarcity of resources, political game, terrorism that seeks a territory to prosper, and the proliferation of weapons. Ethnicity is not the source of the problem. I am Fulani myself and I refuse to define myself by my ethnicity but rather by my belonging to a nation. For me, Dogon and Fulani are the same body and the same blood because we share tons of commonalities. Africa needs to address development issues; our governments need to take care of and provide basic social needs for the people, create conditions for young people to learn and work and, above all, anticipate. Climate change adaptation has begun since in other countries, what are we waiting for? It is these answers that will put an end to the internecine wars but we must change the narrative, there is no hatred or ethnic rejection as such.
In 2016, at the COP 22 in Marrakesh, Morocco, you stated that “The fight against climate change remains a luxury for African women”. Kindly explain this statement further.
We are not moving at the same speed as developed countries. We are always late as I said before. In the North, we talk about climate justice because women suffer from gender-related discrimination and this is coupled with climate change, where they are also sidelined. We are still explaining that gender balance allows for harmonious development, and that in order to build a country, all citizens must work equally and have the same opportunities. Africa is the continent mostly affected by climate change. Women in the rural world and even we who are in the city suffer, are marginalized and poorly represented in everything.
What advice do you have for women activists in Africa?
We must set our priorities right and not let ourselves be dragged into a global agenda. Our challenges are universal, but our responses must be adapted to our realities. We must innovate but innovation must be based on our realities. The road is still long but we must remain determined and confident because the future is Africa. We must be ready to ensure it is done by Africans for the benefit of Africans.
What is your favourite SDG and why?
Difficult to choose because all SDGs are important. I will not choose. In the specific case of Mali, access to quality education (sdg 4) is important. Our education system needs a lot of reforms and schools needs to get closer to students so that they can move around easily and acquire the knowledge they need to build Mali. With a very strong demographic growth, Mali needs to offer quality education because, as Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world”.
How do we reach you for questions, comments or to learn more about your work?
Je suis très active sur twitter @poulodebo