French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed a woman who became French Citizen three years ago as the country’s spokeswoman.
In the new Cabinet changes, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Senegalese-born Sibeth Ndiaye who initially came to the country as a student.
Sibeth also becomes Secretary of State to the Prime Minister in the new changes in government.
But Sibeth is not totally free from controversy. She is known to call media houses and threaten journalists whenever stories she doesn’t like are written.
Campaign media advisor
The 39-year-old born in Dakar worked as Mr Macron’s media adviser during his presidential campaign.
“France has given me a lot. Today, it’s my turn to give something back,” Ms Ndiaye said at a handover ceremony in Paris on Monday.
She praised her parents and siblings for helping her “break through glass ceilings”.
Citizenship
Ms Ndiaye obtained her French citizenship only three years ago.
She moved to Paris to study at university and became a left-wing student activist before joining the Socialist Party in 2002, news agency AFP reports.
“Her nomination is a strong endorsement of diversity in a high-profile job, a promotion and a sign of the president’s trust,” Philippe Grangeon, one of Macron’s top advisers, told French daily Le Monde.