Djessou Kouyate

Djessou Kouyate is the Executive director of the U.S. wing of the Inter-African Committee created in 1984 in Dakar. The guiding principle of IAC-USA is education in order to bring a positive change of attitude and capacity building of affected communities. 

She has a Bachelor degree from University of Maryland University College, and Certification of Project Management from Georgetown University.  

She is an Advocate for women and children’ rights, End Female Genital Mutilation, and Child Mariage.  

She is also the Co-founder of « Vacances Sans Excision » (Summer without Female Genital Mutilation -FGM)” an annually activity to raise awareness and knowledge of FGM through Summer Camp so that both educators and campers can actively be involved in the prevention of FGM. She has done many public speaking to raise awareness on FGM/C in the United States. 

In 2012 she coordinated, managed, and delivered a successful high level event “Bridge between USA and Africa”. Among the esteemed guests were the first ladies from Burkina Faso and the Niger, dignitaries from the State Department, USAID, World Bank, UN, religious and community leaders, and the diaspora communities. 

Djessou has always been involved with her father, H.E. Dr. Morissanda Kouyate, recently appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Guinea, a laureate of the United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize to End FGM in her native country Guinea and around the world.