For the first time in its history, Colombia has elected a black woman as its Vice President.
Forty-year old environmental activist and lawyer, Francis Marquez was elected alongside Gustavo Petro in Sunday’s run-off in which the ticket won just over 50 percent of the vote.
Marquez, whose parents are farmers has been an activist since her early teens, leading protests over mining concessions granted to international businesses by the Colombian authorities in her home town.
She once led a 500- kilometre protest walk to the country’s capital, Bogata over environmental rights issues.
Blacks, known as Afros, make up just under seven percent of the Colombian population.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
