Ouma Laouali is a Nigerien pilot, and the first woman to serve as a pilot in the country.
In October 2015, Lieutenant Laouali, aged 28, became the first woman pilot in Niger.[1][2][3][4]
Laouali was one of a coterie of members of the Nigerien airforce to be trained as pilots in the United States, as part of a programme to help in fighting Boko Haram, the Islamist terrorist group active in the region.[1][2] She will be flying a Cessna airplane, two of which were given to Niger by the US in a ceremony in Niger's capital Niamey, as part of the US$24 million package of training and aircraft.[2] As of October 2015, the US has a drone base in Niamey, and is reported to be building another in Agadez a town in the Nigerien desert, as part of its counter-terrorism activities.[4]
Laouali will be flying the Cessna 208 Caravan, an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, which can perform a variety of military tasks.[2]
According to Ventures Africa, "female pilots challenge sexist views that men are better suited as pilots."[1] True Africa included Laouali in their list of "The African women who rocked it in 2015".[5]
- ^ a b c "Meet Niger's first female pilot - Ventures Africa". venturesafrica.com. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Ouma Laouali: Niger gets first female airforce pilot". thisisafrica.me. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ "Flying High! Here are the Trailblazing Female Pilots From Africa". styleyetu.com. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Africa highlights: Thursday 22 October 2015". bbc.co.uk. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ "Which African women powered change in 2015? - TRUE Africa". trueafrica.co. Retrieved 9 November 2017.