(3 minutes)
The vice-president of Colombia, Afro-Colombian Francia Marquez, is on tour in several African countries. Her visit comes amid strong criticism from the conservative opposition in her country, which was trying to stall her visit. She will be visiting South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia with a delegation consisting of over 50 people.
The vice-president of Colombia, Afro-Colombian Francia Marquez, is on tour in several African countries. Her visit comes amid strong criticism from the conservative opposition in her country, which was trying to stall her visit. She will be visiting South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia with a delegation consisting of over 50 people.
Francia Marquez is the first black woman vice-president of Colombia elected in the 2022 general elections. The 41-year-old, a leftist supporter, was the running mate of the left opponent Gustavo Petro. The visit is aimed at strengthening Columbia’s ties with Africa in areas like peace, reconciliation, gender, racial equality, and the defense of the environment. However, this trip is strongly criticized by the conservative right, for its supposed cost or its carbon footprint.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/kenya-south-africa-in-talks-to-form-a-pan-african-airline/
Ms. Marquez’s rise to the top echelons of power in 2022 exposed the hidden racism that persists in Colombia, where nearly 9% of the 50 million people are of African descent. Born into a poor family in the Cali region, the vice president became a single mother at sixteen, fled her country under death threats, studied law, and became a leading environmentalist, winning the Goldman Prize. , known as the Nobel Prize for Ecologists. She played a key role in President Petro’s election and is one of Times magazine’s 100 People of the Year for 2022.
