Madame Aïchata Haidara Cissé is a prominent Malian politician, trade unionist, and businesswoman who has made a significant mark on the political and social landscape of Mali and Africa.

She began her career at Air Afrique, where she held various positions, including Head of Accounting, Tourism, Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications. As a trade unionist, she served as General Secretary of the Air Afrique Workers’ Union in Mali (1983–1997) and as General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) for Francophone Africa (1984–2000). Her trade union activism led her to organize demonstrations in defense of African aviation, often at great personal risk, as she faced direct threats. At the same time, she engaged in the private sector as founder and CEO of several travel agencies and other businesses in Mali, Gabon, Congo, and Paris.

Elected for the first time to the National Assembly of Mali in 2007 under the banner of the Union Malienne du Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (UM-RDA), Madame Haidara Cissé was re-elected in 2013 and again in 2020. She distinguished herself as the only female candidate in Mali’s 2013 presidential election. She later took the helm of the Mouvement pour le Renouveau Démocratique (MRD), becoming the first woman to lead a parliamentary group. Her political work has focused strongly on security issues, particularly the crisis in northern Mali involving separatist movements and armed groups. She established herself as a vocal critic of the MNLA and worked actively to clarify Mali’s situation both nationally and internationally, using media and diplomatic channels.

Madame Haidara is also recognized for her commitment to women’s empowerment, child protection, and the well-being of vulnerable groups. She has held important positions at the Pan-African Parliament, where she was elected Second Vice-President in 2018, with responsibility for parliamentary diplomacy representing West Africa.