President Adama Barrow has today, April 1, appointed internationally acclaimed activist Jaha Dukureh as Vice President of The Gambia, according to information received by What’s On-Gambia.
Dukureh replaces Muhammad B. S. Jallow, who has been reassigned to the country’s Foreign Service.
Her appointment makes Dukureh the youngest person in Gambian history to hold the office of vice president. Many analysts say the president’s decision could strengthen the country’s global image, noting that Dukureh’s international profile may help attract investors and elevate The Gambia’s presence on the world stage.
Born in The Gambia, Dukureh moved to the United States as a teenager. She is the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting young women and girls and advocating against harmful traditional practices.
In 2018, she became the first Gambian to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was also named among the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2017 by New African Magazine and included in the TIME 100 Most Influential People in 2016.
Dukureh holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Georgia Southwestern State University and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida in the United States.
It remains unclear whether Dukureh has relinquished her American citizenship. Under Gambian law, dual citizens are not permitted to hold cabinet-level positions.