Asha Rose Migiro Biography – Life, Education, Career and More

Asha Rose Migiro (born 9th July 1956) is a Tanzanian diplomat and politician who served as the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN between 2007 and 2012. On 13th July 2012, she was appointed UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Dr Asha Rose Migiro Education and Early Life

Asha Rose Migiro was born in the city of Songea in Tanzania’s Ruvuma Region. She began her education at Mnazi Mmoja Primary School in 1963. Later, she moved to Korogwe Primary School. She began her secondary school education at Weruweru Secondary School before moving to Korogwe Secondary School, graduating in 1975.

Asha Rose Migiro bagged her LLB and LL.M degrees from the University of Dar es Salaam. She got her Ph.D. from the University of Konstanz in Germany in 1992. She was a senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam’s Faculty of law prior to joining politics. Between 1992 and 1994, she was the head of the Department of Administrative and Constitutional Law. She also headed the department of Criminal and Civil Law from 1994 to 1997.

Asha Rose Migiro was a Chama Cha Mapinduzi ward member from 1994 to 2000. From 2000 to 2005, she was a member of the Regional Executive Council. She served as the Minister of Community Development, Gender, and Children’s Affairs between 2000 and 2006. On 4th January 2006, she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation when the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, set up his cabinet after becoming president. Thus, she became the first woman to hold the position since Tanzania became independent.

During her time as Minister of Foreign Affairs, she chaired the Council of Ministers’ meetings of the Southern Africa Development Community Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Defense, Politics and Security Cooperation and the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region. She was in charge of SADC’s assistance to the elections held in Madagascar, Zambia, and DRC. Asha Rose Migiro also served as President of the UN Security Council (UNSC) during its open debate on security, development, and peace in the Great Lakes Region.

In her position as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Asha Rose Migiro accompanied the former President of the Union of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, during a tour of the new Comorian consulate in Tanzania and also inspected a Tanzanian hospital. According to US officials, the American Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, is “personally acquainted” with Migiro. In January 2007, Bernard Membe was appointed by President Kikwete to succeed Migiro as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

UN Appointment

On 5th January 2007, new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Asha Rose Migiro as UN Deputy Secretary-General. According to Ban Ki-moon, “Mirigo is a highly esteemed leader who has over the years championed the cause of developing nations…” He also stated that “Through her illustrious service in different areas, she has shown superior management skills with wide expertise and experience in development issues and socio-economic affairs.” According to the New York Times, Mirigo’s appointment was a fulfillment of Ban’s pledge to select a woman from the developing part of the world for the post. The United Nations News Centre noted that Ban and Mirigo had worked together previously while serving as foreign ministers of their countries. Mirigo was formally appointed and assumed office on 1st February 2007.

While at the UN, Asha Rose Migiro also served as a member of the Commission on Effective Cooperation with Africa established by Danish PM Anders F. Rasmussen. The body had meetings between April and October 2008. She travelled to Rome in September 2009 and had a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and Italy’s foreign minister Franco Frattini for discussions on violence against women. UN representatives were purportedly finalizing an initiative to end genocide and female genital mutilation.

She left her position as Deputy Secretary-General in June 2012.

Later Career

After her time at the UN, she returned to Tanzania, and Jakaya Kikwete appointed her as a cabinet minister. Later she joined the race to become the candidate of the CCM in the 2015 presidential elections. However, she lost the nomination to the eventual winner of the election, John Pombe Magufuli.

Asha Rose Migiro was appointed as the Tanzanian High Commissioner to the UK in May 2016 by President Magufuli.

Personal Life

Asha Rose Migiro is married to Cleophas Migiro, and they have two daughters.

For more articles related to Famous People from Tanzania, click here!