Suzana Mohammed: The Palestinian Who Creates Presidents in Colombia

Follow-up from SadaNews: In the Colombian political scene, the name Suzana Mohammed Qandah stands out as one of the most influential and capable figures. She is not just a prominent environmental expert but a seasoned politician who has played a pivotal role in the making of presidents. She has become a symbol of the success of Palestinian communities in Latin America. Her career, spanning two decades, has made her a key figure in shaping progressive policies and a fundamental pillar in the rise of President Gustavo Petro to power.

Suzana was born in Barranquilla, the capital of the Atlántico department, overlooking the Caribbean in northern Colombia. Her roots trace back to the village of Abu Shcheidim in the northwest of Ramallah, where her grandfather immigrated for economic reasons.

In a press interview, she recounted that she discovered her grandfather left two sons in Palestine, each of whom had eight children, which resulted in her having sixteen first cousins. She visited all of them during two weeks she spent getting to know her extended family.

As for her academic life, she is an environmental scientist who graduated from the Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia, earning a master's degree in sustainable development management and planning from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Her scientific expertise has reflected in her professional career, where she has worked with social and environmental groups, allowing her to collaborate with Gustavo Petro when he was the mayor of the capital, Bogotá, from 2012 to 2015.

During that period, she held a pivotal position twice, between 2012 and 2013 and then between 2014 and 2015, where she led pioneering environmental policies, including developing a climate change plan for the city, introducing hybrid buses, launching a tender to replace "TransMilenio" buses with electric ones, experimenting with electric taxis, and promoting wetland protection policies. These achievements made her one of the prominent advocates for a shift to environmentally friendly transportation.

She also served as the Secretary General of the Mayor's Office from 2013 to 2014, a position in which she played a critical role in Petro's defensive campaign after he was dismissed from his position as Bogotá's first mayor by former Attorney General Alejandro Ordóñez. This position enhanced her status as a loyal ally and a fundamental pillar in Petro's political journey.

Over twenty years of political activism, Suzana Mohammed has become a support for Petro in his electoral campaigns, working as an advisor for him in three consecutive presidential campaigns, the last of which successfully led him to the presidency of the country. During that phase, she held the position of Minister of Environment in his government, becoming the first Palestinian-born individual to reach a ministerial position in any country in the Americas. This appointment was a historic milestone in her career, but it is now part of her long political record.

Before reaching the ministry, she was a member of the Bogotá Council since January 2020 after being elected with the support of the "Colombia Humana" movement in the 2019 regional elections. This position provided her with additional experience in legislative and political work, cementing her presence as a prominent leader in the progressive stream.

Today, with the upcoming presidential elections approaching, Suzana confirms that she remains committed to the progressive political project, supporting candidate Ivan Cepeda, as she coordinates his campaign in the capital, Bogotá. This role reflects her continued involvement in creating major political transformations and underscores her being described as someone who "creates presidents" through strategic planning and the ability to mobilize social and political forces.

Suzana Mohammed is not just a former Minister of Environment but a central figure in the modern Colombian political landscape, combining social sensitivity and political experience to shape the future of the country. Her story represents a living example of the success of Palestinian diaspora children in reaching decision-making positions and demonstrates the capacity of Arab women to be active in the highest offices, influencing both political and environmental trajectories alike.