Hadja Nanténin Chérif Konaté, often called Hadja Nantou Chérif, is a prominent Guinean politician who has significantly shaped the political landscape of her country for several decades. An activist with the RPG Rainbow Coalition from the age of 17, she experienced political exile in the 1990s before establishing herself as an essential figure in Alpha Condé's party. Her career has been marked by high-level positions: Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of State at the Presidency of the Republic, member of the National Assembly, and 5th Vice-President of this institution.
As the National Coordinator of the RPG Rainbow Coalition, she has distinguished herself through her outspokenness and unwavering loyalty to her party, never hesitating to confront the opposition and vigorously defend her political party's positions. The widow of former ambassador Cheick Mohammed Chérif Haidara, she remains an influential voice in the Guinean political landscape even after the September 2021 coup d'état that overthrew President Alpha Condé.
Introduction
Hadja Nanténin Chérif Konaté, often called Hadja Nantou Chérif, is one of the most influential female politicians in contemporary Guinea. An early activist and emblematic figure of the RPG Rainbow Coalition, she has played a prominent role in the Guinean political landscape for several decades.
Political Career
Born in Kankan, Hadja Nanténin Chérif Konaté became politically engaged at the age of 17 when she joined the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG). Her early activism led to persecution by those in power during the 1995 legislative elections, forcing her into exile in France via Mali. The electoral period of 1998 further intensified pressures against RPG members, and Nanténin Chérif Konaté once again had to be exfiltrated to France.
This challenging journey did not diminish her political determination. On the contrary, her loyalty and commitment were rewarded in 2013 when she led her party's list in the legislative elections. This victory allowed her to serve as a deputy in the Guinean National Assembly while assuming the strategic role of National Coordinator of the RPG Rainbow Coalition.
Positions and Responsibilities
Hadja Nanténin Chérif Konaté's political career is marked by several high-responsibility positions:
- Minister of Social Affairs, Women's Promotion, and Childhood (until October 2012)
- Minister of State in the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic (from October 2012)
- Deputy in the National Assembly (since 2013)
- 5th Vice-President of the National Assembly (from December 2017)
- National Coordinator of the RPG Rainbow Coalition
Her appointment as Vice-President of the National Assembly in December 2017 was seen as recognition of her political influence and contribution within the ruling party.
Political Style and Positioning
Hadja Nanténin Chérif Konaté is known for her outspokenness and direct style. During the 2013 legislative elections, she did not hesitate to announce the opposition's "failure" well before the official results were published, inviting her adversaries to "wait their turn" to govern the country.
In 2014, she also distinguished herself by her firm positions against former power figures, particularly when she promised "interrogations" of former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo regarding his past management. That same year, she sharply criticized the opposition's decision to suspend its activities in parliament, describing this initiative as "senseless."
More recently, she supported the new Constitution project in 2019, confirming her alignment with President Alpha Condé's positions. After the coup d'état of September 5, 2021, which overthrew the latter, she actively participated in the reorganization of the RPG Rainbow Coalition, supporting the appointment of Kassory Fofana as head of the party. On this occasion, she demonstrated political pragmatism by declaring that a "candidate from Upper Guinea would cause more harm than good for the party."
Personal Life
On a personal level, Hadja Nanténin Chérif Konaté was married to Cheick Mohammed Chérif Haidara, former Ambassador of Guinea to Berlin, Moscow, and Tokyo, who died on October 1 in Paris at the age of 74. In January 2018, she was the victim of false information circulating on social networks, accusing her of having married a 34-year-old man when she was supposedly 79 - a rumor she formally denied, clarifying that the young man in question was actually her nephew.
Political Legacy
An essential figure in the Guinean political scene, Hadja Nanténin Chérif Konaté embodies resilience and perseverance in an often unstable political landscape. Her political longevity and ability to navigate the turbulent waters of Guinean politics testify to her strategic skill and unwavering determination.
As she herself stated: "We must not go into battle in a scattered order. It will be tough, but we will win." This quote perfectly summarizes her political philosophy: unity, determination, and optimism in the face of challenges.
