阿米娜·古里布-法基姆1959—

Dr. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim (Mauritian Creole pronunciation: [bibi amina fiːədos ɡəʁib fakim]) GCSK (born 17 October 1959) is a Mauritian politician and biodiversity scientist who served as the sixth president of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018. In December 2014, she was selected to be the presidential candidate of the Alliance Lepep. After Kailash Purryag resigned on 29 May 2015, both Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger positively welcomed her nomination, which was unanimously approved in a vote in the National Assembly.

Gurib-Fakim is the first woman elected as president of the country and is the third woman to have served as Head of State following Queen Elizabeth II and Monique Ohsan Bellepeau, who preceded her in this office and was her first Vice President. She served as a 2019 keynote speaker of Cambridge University's conference "Africa Together: Which Way Forward?" hosted by the African Society of Cambridge University.

Since March 2026, she has served as Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Global Center on Adaptation.

Early life and education

Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim was born in the village of Surinam on 17 October 1959, to parents Hassenjee Gurib and Firdaus Durgauhee. She grew up in Plaine Magnien and completed her studies at the primary school in Saint-Patrice. She then moved to Mahébourg Loreto Convent, finishing her Higher School Certificate at Loreto Convent Quatre Bornes before flying to England for her undergraduate degree in chemistry. She graduated from the University of Surrey in 1983 with a BSc degree in chemistry. After obtaining her PhD degree in organic chemistry at Exeter University, she returned home in 1987 to take employment at the University of Mauritius.

Career

Academic and scientific career

Gurib-Fakim worked at the Mauritius Research Council as Manager for Research from 1995 to 1997. She later became Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Mauritius, where she served successively as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (2004–2010). She also served as Chairperson of the International Council for Scientific Union – Regional Office for Africa from 2011 to 2014.

Before her presidency, she was Managing Director of CIDP Research & Innovation (formerly Cephyr, Centre for Phytotherapy Research).

In December 2013, Gurib-Fakim made a complaint to the Mauritian Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), alleging religious discrimination in the consideration of her application for Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mauritius.

Personal life

In 1988, she married Dr. Anwar Fakim who is a surgeon. They have two children; a son (Adam, born in 1992 and studied at the University of Kent) and a daughter (Imaan, who studied Computer Science).

Controversies

Soon after her appointment as President the former Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam raised concerns about the PhD qualifications of Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. Ramgoolam reiterated his earlier concerns when the Platinum Card Scandal came to light.

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim officially resigned from the position of President of Mauritius on 23 March 2018 after the 50th anniversary of independence celebrations when L'Express newspapers leaked her bank details, although she had refunded the expenditures one year before the leak. This resignation was mainly due to conflicts on interest and allegations arising from her involvement as Vice-Chairperson of the Charitable Organisation Planet Earth Institute (PEI), private expenditures on a credit card and business trips financed by PEI and approved by the Govt.

Awards and honours

Honours

National honours

• Mauritius
• Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK)
• Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean(CSK)

Foreign honours

• France
• Member of the Order of Academic Palms, 3rd Class (national order)
• Castroan Royal Family of Two Sicilies
• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I (dynastic order)

Awards and recognition

Gurib-Fakim has also been the recipient of various international awards including the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2007), Laureate for the National Economic and Social Council (2007), the CTA / NEPAD / AGRA / RUFORUM for ‘African Women in Science’ and the African Union Award for Women in Science. She was also made Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (CSK) by President Anerood Jugnauth in 2008 for her contribution to the education and the scientific sector.