In March 2025, Sara Zaafarani Zenzari (Arabic: سارة زعفراني زنزري, romanized: Sāra Zaʿfarānī Zanzarī; born 26 January 1963) made history when she became the Prime Minister of Tunisia, becoming only the second woman to hold the country’s highest government office. Najla Bouden was the female prime minister both in Tunisia and the Arab world (2021-2023). Her appointment marked another significant milestone for women’s political leadership in North Africa and highlighted the growing influence of women in shaping the future of the region.

Education:

  • Civil engineering – National Engineering School of Tunis
  • Master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Leibniz University (Germany)

Rather than beginning her career in parliament, she spent decades working as an engineer, overseeing major infrastructure projects and helping modernise Tunisia’s transport and housing sectors.

Her expertise and leadership led to her appointment as Minister of Public Works and Housing in 2021. She later served as Acting Minister of Transport before being selected as Prime Minister by President Kais Saied in March 2025. As head of government, she took office during a challenging period marked by economic pressures and growing public expectations for reform.

Sara Zaafarani Zenzari’s journey is significant because it demonstrates that leadership is built through knowledge, experience, and perseverance. As an engineer, she brought a practical, solutions-focused approach to public service, proving that women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can rise to the highest levels of government.

For brown women and girls, her story is a powerful reminder that careers in engineering, public service, and politics are not separate paths—they can lead to one another. Sara Zaafarani Zenzari represents a new generation of female leaders whose technical expertise is helping shape the future of their nations while inspiring young women to dream beyond traditional boundaries.

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