Throughout Africa, girls have performed vital roles in nationwide politics and governance, holding numerous key positions.
Notably, just a few international locations have had girls function presidents, setting the stage for better empowerment of girls in African society and advancing gender equality.
These are the African international locations which have had girls main the affairs of the nation:
1. Liberia
Historical past was made when Liberia elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as president, making her the primary African lady to be elected as a head of state and the longest-serving feminine president on the continent. Main a nation initially ravaged by conflict, she confronted the large job of restoring peace and resolving nationwide conflicts, efforts that earned her a Nobel Peace Prize. Ellen served as president for 12 years, from 2006 to 2018.
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2. Malawi
Malawi gained its first feminine president in 2012 following the sudden passing of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Joyce Banda took over workplace from 2012 to 2014 after serving because the nation’s first feminine vp. She was named by Forbes because the fortieth strongest lady on this planet—the highest-ranking African on the checklist—following her efforts to revive worldwide relations that had been strained beneath President Mutharika.
3. Namibia
In 2023, Namibia made historical past by electing its first feminine president. Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, popularly often known as NNN, is presently the president-elect and is about to imagine workplace on 21 March 2024. Earlier than her presidency, NNN held numerous key positions throughout the authorities, most lately serving as Namibia’s deputy prime minister.
4. Burundi
Sylvie Kinigi served as Burundi’s first and solely feminine president from 1993 to 1994, turning into the primary African lady to imagine the position. Throughout this era, she additionally served because the nation’s prime minister. Her Tutsi identification posed a major problem throughout a time of intense ethnic battle between the Hutu and Tutsi populations. All through her tenure, she performed an important position in stabilising tensions in elements of the nation.
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5. Gabon
Rose Francine Rogombé turned Gabon’s appearing president following the loss of life of long-time chief Omar Bongo in 2009. Nevertheless, her tenure lasted solely six months till Omar Bongo’s son, Ali Bongo, was elected as the brand new president.
6. Ethiopia
Sahle-Work Zewde was Ethiopia’s first feminine president, serving from 2018 to 2024. With intensive expertise in international service, she held ambassadorial roles in a number of international locations and key positions throughout the United Nations. She was additionally the second lady in Ethiopia’s historical past to carry an ambassadorial place.
7. Central African Republic
Catherine Samba-Panza served as Transitional President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. A staunch advocate for ladies’s rights, she championed assist for survivors of sexual violence and fought in opposition to feminine genital mutilation. Earlier than assuming the presidency, she served as mayor of Bangui, the nation’s capital.
8. Tanzania
Samia Suluhu Hassan has been serving as President of the United Republic of Tanzania since 19 March 2021, turning into the primary lady to carry the workplace. She beforehand served as vp from 2015 to 2021 earlier than assuming management following the loss of life of her predecessor, John Magufuli. At present, Samia is the one sitting feminine president in Africa.
9. Mauritius
Agnès Monique Ohsan Bellepeau served as appearing president of Mauritius twice—first from 31 March to 21 July 2012 following the resignation of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, and once more from 29 Could to five June 2015 after the resignation of President Kailash Purryag.
Curiously, one other lady, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, was elected President of Mauritius in 2015 after Kailash Purryag’s resignation. Nevertheless, she later stepped down in 2018 amid a monetary controversy.
Africa nonetheless has an extended technique to go in attaining gender illustration in governance, significantly on the highest ranges of management. Nevertheless, with these trailblazing girls paving the best way, the continent is prone to see extra feminine leaders sooner or later. Speed up Motion!
