Zainab Bangura

Zainab Bangura, born on December eighteenth, nineteen fifty-nine, is a prominent Sierra Leonean diplomat and social activist. Since two thousand eighteen, she has held the esteemed position of Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), a role she was appointed to by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Her career in international diplomacy is marked by her tenure as the second United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, where she served at the level of Under-Secretary-General from two thousand twelve to two thousand seventeen. In this capacity, she succeeded Margot Wallström and was later followed by Pramila Patten.

In two thousand seven, Bangura made history by becoming Sierra Leone's foreign minister under President Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People's Congress (APC) Party, making her the second woman to occupy this significant role, following Shirley Gbujama. Prior to this, she served as the Minister of Health and Sanitation from two thousand ten to two thousand twelve, further showcasing her commitment to public service and health advocacy.