Fatoumata Sylla

Fatoumata Sylla (born 11 December 1954), fondly known as Fanta Sylla, is a Malian lawyer and the first female Minister of Justice of Mali from 2 May 2004 to 3 October 2007. She is also the first female Malian lawyer and the first female Batonnière of the Bar Association of Mali. Sylla came to the public notice after her defence of President Moussa Traore and some members of his regime accused at the so-called “blood crimes” (1992-1993) and “economic crimes” (1998) trials.[1][2]

Education and career

Sylla was born in Ségou in 1954. She obtained her first law degree and a certificate of private law at the University Of Social Sciences of Toulouse. From 1979 to 1980 she studied for an MPhil in Public and Private International Relations and a certificate of aptitude for the legal profession at the University Paris X Nanterre which qualified her for a legal practice after being sworn at the Paris Court of Appeal. After her internship at the professional training center of the bars of the jurisdictions of the Court in 1982, she returned to Mali and was sworn at the Bamako Court of Appeal same year (1982). She was a member of the National Council of the Bar Association from 1987 to 1992.

During her tenure as minister of justice she improved prisons living conditions and campaigned for the protection and promotion of human rights in Mali. She is a founding member of the International Training Center for Francophone Lawyers and the International Criminal Bar and a member of the board of directors in charge of coordinating the sub-Saharan Africa region.[1][3]

See also

References
  1. "Pioneer African Women in Law". African Women in Law. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  2. "Mali Ministers". guide2womenleaders.com. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  3. "African UnionHandbook" (PDF).


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