After an intensive and competitive recruitment process, Dr. Oulie Keita Has been appointed as Greenpeace Africa’s Substantive Executive Director, to usher the organisation into a new wave of environmental justice.
Greenpeace Africa, an international non-governmental environmental organisation, has appointed a Mali-born environmental, youth and human rights activist, as its Executive Director.
The Mali-born development expert has joined the organization amidst a period of growing environmental injustices unfolding in the African continent. These vary from deforestation in the Congo Basin, overfishing in West Africa, fossil fuel dependence in South Africa, and the push towards ecological farming in East Africa.
“Africa is able to lead the global movement to environmental justice. We have enough tools for that. We cannot continue following the rest of the world down the same path to climate catastrophe.
Africa is suffering the consequences of big polluters. Organisations like Greenpeace Africa are leading the way in the fight for climate change, showing that it is possible to change this trajectory, win environmental and social battles, and promoting alternative futures that prize our connection with the planet and with each other,” said Dr. Keita, newly appointed Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa.
“African women and African youth deserve a safe and bright future. The climate crisis has dire impacts on women and on the continent's disenfranchised youth. It is our essential challenge to ensure that governments, polluters, and profit-driven corporations are stopped in their tracks and prevented from undoing our collective future.” added Dr. Oulie Keita.
According to a press release from the non-governmental organization, Africa's social and environmental injustices are rooted in an extractivist neo-colonial economic model.
Greenpeace Africa believes that Dr. Keita will lead the implementation of the organisation's new strategy which, grounded in African Consciousness, seeks to dismantle systems which have historically served only to benefit the colonial powers, still plundering Africa for its resources.
"Greenpeace Africa is at the forefront of the protection and preservation of the environment across the continent in the face of enormous challenges. It is critical to build a movement led by women and youth, the next generation of leaders and custodians of our heritage and environment in Africa. We are confident that Dr. Keita will make this movement more impactful across the continent," said Oury Traoré, Greenpeace Africa Board Chair in an interview with the press.
With over 20 years of experience in the international development space, Dr Keita has worked as the Executive Director of Youthconnekt Africa which covers over 32 countries across thee continent. The new Executive Director is grounded in the nexus of development peace/security, with a focus on youth empowermen, gender issues and environmental protection. Dr Keita also works on policy, advocacy and lobbying t various levels.
" Dr. Keita brings two decades of knowledge and insight from various capacities with the United Nations (UN) agencies, continental institutions such as the African Union (AU), international and regional organisations, civil society organisations, and community-based organisations across Africa." Stated a press release by Greenpeace Africa.
The challenges plaguing the African continent match with the 20 years of experience in international development under Keita Oulie's belt.
By Sa'ah Siona Ikei, The Post Newspaper
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