International Women’s Day

Amina Mohamed, the winner of 7th edition

‘‘I am a little bit tired as I don’t have enough training, but I successfully finished the race’’, says Mrs. Mab Elhad.  The international women’s day was celebrated this Thursday, 8 march, 2018 in Moroni, the capital of Comoros. The day celebration started in the morning by a women’s race in the streets of Moroni from 7 to 9 a.m. and ended with a government’s conference in the afternoon.

The women’s race was launched for the first time in 2009 by Alain le Guarrec, a French counselor who used to work in the Comorian ministry of health. He also set up the MPI club (Marathon Place de l’Independence) the same year. The marathon club has more now than 150 members. Under the supervision and the leadership of le Guarrec, the International Marathon of Comoros was also organized for the first time in 2009 and lasted until 2012.

More than 300 women competitors attended the 7^th edition of the sporting event (the race was not organized in 2016 and 2017 for financial reasons). MPI women were always the winners of the last editions. However, this year and for the first time, MPI members lost the three first places.     

Amina Mohamed, a Tanzanian citizen, won the race. The old woman who runs the race was 79 years old and the younger was only 16. The competition was about 3 miles and was organized by the Comorian Federation of Athletics and other women’s organizations, and sponsored by companies and organizations such as Telco, Exim Bank, Mamwe and UNICEF in Comoros.    

Many women celebrities such as Mrs. Arnoux Laurence, the French cooperation chief from the French embassy in Comoros, Dr. Rashid Fatma, the Comorian minister of health, Vanylle Emasse, Miss Mayotte, Mrs. Hadjira Oumouri, Member of the Comorian Parliament also honored the event.     

13 March, 2018

Contributing writer

Chami Mouzawar