Ameenah Gurib-Fakim

**Dr. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim**  (Mauritian Creole pronunciation: [bibi amina fiːədos ɡəʁib fakim]) GCSK (born 17 October 1959) be Mauritian politician den biodiversity scientist wey dey serve as de sixth president of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018. Insyd December 2014, dem select am to be de presidential candidate of de Alliance Lepep. After Kailash Purryag resign on 29 May 2015, both Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth den Leader of de Opposition Paul Berenger welcome am well well, wey dem agree one time in vote say make dem approve ein nomination insyd National Assembly.

Gurib-Fakim be de first woman wey dem elect as president for de country, wey she be de third woman wey serve as Head of State after Queen Elizabeth II den Monique Ohsan Bellepeau, wey dey de position before am, na she be first Vice President. She serve as keynote speaker for Cambridge University conference for 2019 wey dem call “Africa Together: Which Way Forward?”, wey na African Society of Cambridge University host am.

Since March 2026, she dey serve as Chair for de Supervisory Board of de Global Center on Adaptation.

## Early life den education
Dem born Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim for Surinam village on 17 October 1959. Ein parents be Hassenjee Gurib den Firdaus Durgauhee. She grow for Plaine Magnien wey she fini ein schooling for Saint-Patrice primary school. After dat, she move go Mahébourg Loreto Convent, come fini ein Higher School Certificate for Loreto Convent Quatre Bornes, before she fly go England go do ein undergraduate degree for chemistry. She graduate from University of Surrey for 1983 with BSc degree for chemistry. After she get ein PhD for organic chemistry from Exeter University, she cam back home for 1987 go work for University of Mauritius. 

## Career

### Academic den scientific career
Gurib-Fakim work for Mauritius Research Council as Research Manager from 1995 to 1997. She later cam be Professor for Organic Chemistry at University of Mauritius, for der, she serve one after de other as Dean for Faculty of Science den Pro-Vice-Chancellor (2004–2010). She sanso serve as Chairperson for de International Council for Scientific Union – Regional Office for Africa from 2011 to 2014.

Before she cam be president, she be Managing Director for CIDP Research & Innovation (wey dem first dey call Cephyr, Centre for Phytotherapy Research).

For December 2013, Gurib-Fakim go report matter give Mauritian Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), say dem discriminate against am secof religion when dem dey consider her application for Vice-Chancellor of University of Mauritius. De EOC investigation find say no be true, but dem point out say problems dey for de selection process, like no clear criteria and no mark sheets to take judge di candidates.

### Presidency of Mauritius
For 2015, dem nominate am as President of Mauritius. Na de then Prime Minister den ein party member for Militant Socialist Movement, Anerood Jugnauth, put ein name forward, wey Mauritian National Assembly approve am one-time. She resign for 2018 secof financial scandal wey happen during de time wey Pravind Jugnauth be Prime Minister. De office of president remain empty til December 2019, when Prithvirajsing Roopun cam take over. For dat time, Vice-President Barlen Vyapoory dey serve as acting president.

### Post-presidency
For March 2026, Gurib-Fakim get appointment as Chair for de Supervisory Board of de Global Center on Adaptation. She follow Macky Sall wey step down after e submit ein candidacy for Secretary-General of de United Nations. De organization sanso announce say Rindra Rabarinirinarison go cam be dema new Chief Executive Officer, while de founding chair Ban Ki-moon go finish ein time den take de role of GCA Chair Emeritus.

## Personal life
For 1988, she marry Dr. Anwar Fakim wey be surgeon. Dem get two kiddies; one boy (Adam, wey dem born for 1992 wey he study for University of Kent) den one girlie (Imaan, wey study Computer Science).

Soon after dem appoint am as President, former Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam raise wahala about Ameenah Gurib-Fakim PhD qualification. Ramgoolam come talk de same wahala again wen Platinum Card Scandal come out. 

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim officially resign from ein position as President of Mauritius on 23 March 2018, after de 50th independence anniversary celebrations, wen L'Express newspaper leak ein bank details, even though she already refund de money one year before de leak. Dis resignation mainly happen secof conflict of interest den  wahala wey cam from ein work as Vice-Chairperson of de charitable organisation Planet Earth Institute (PEI), plus private spending on credit card den business trips wey PEI pay for wey Government of Mauritius approve, secof de involvement of PEI controversial founder den businessman Álvaro Sobrinho. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim sanso ask say Financial Services Commission (FSC) give banking license to Álvaro Sobrinho, as Chairperson of PEI, to manage di PASET Funds.

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