Aissata Tall Sall

Aïssata Tall Sall (born 12 December 1957) is a Senegalese lawyer and politician who served as Foreign Minister from November 2020 to October 2023.

Early life and education Tall was born on 12 December 1957 in Podor and comes from a conservative Marabout family.

Career

Tall specialised in business law before becoming involved in politics. She was an advocate in a number of political trials against the Wade regime from 2000 to 2012. She was also a member of the National Assembly in the coalition Benno Bokk Yaakaar ("United in the Same Hope"). She briefly left the party in 2018 to set up her own movement called "Daring the Future", but did not receive enough signatures to contest elections. She was appointed Foreign Minister in Sall's replacement cabinet on 1 November 2020, the first woman in the role. At the ceremony to handover the role from her predecessor Amadou Ba, she set out a roadmap focused on fighting against "clandestine emigration" and the idea that success is only possible elsewhere.

Tall has said that her desire is to be the first female head of state in Francophone Africa.

Personal life Tall is married to Issa Sall, a magistrate. She speaks French and Pular.