Political Participation & Leadership

It has been argued that where women are fully represented, societies are more peaceful and stable. Women's political participation is fundamental for gender equality and their representation in positions of leadership must be a priority for all African governments. Women are largely under-represented in decision-making and leadership positions in Africa.

Over the last years, there has been more women in parliaments and decision-making positions than before. In the parliamentary elections of Rwanda in September 2013 women obtained 64 percent of the seats, which is the highest number in the world. However, women's participation in governmance and decision-making remain very limited. They are outnumbered by men in all decision-making and leadership positions.

In the history of Africa, there are now three women who have been elected president:

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – President of the Republic of Liberia
Joyce Banda – President of the Republic of Malawi
Catherine Samba-Panza – Interim President of the Central African Republic

There is progress here and there on the continent regarding women's rights . We must go much further to ensure greater gender equality in Africa. It is not just a matter of justice....When women take their rightful place at the negotiating table, in the parliament and in leadership positions across society, we can unleash Africa’s enormous potential..." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

To learn more about women's political participation, please visit the following websites:

Source: IPS
Only 38 women – of a total of 586 candidates – will contest parliamentary seats in Sierra Leone’s November elections, and the blame for this can be laid squarely on the shoulders of the current group of female lawmakers, according to Barbara Bangura, the director of the women’s organisation Grassroots Empowerment for Self Reliance.

Sierra Leone

Source: BBC
Somalia is to get its first female foreign minister in a cabinet formed by new Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon.

Somalia

Source: Global Press Institute
Money and tribal affiliation have long dominated Kenya’s political scene. But a young woman with neither sees the adoption of a new constitution and need for change as her opportunity to win the presidential race.

Kenya

Source: Tunis Afrique Press as found at AllAfrica.com
Works of an international conference on women's participation in public and political life and decision making started, on Monday in Tunis, on the theme "no democracy without women".

Tunisia

Source: Aswat Masriya
A number of non-governmental organizations asked on Monday for a decent representation of women in parliament and other elected bodies.

Egypt

Source: Aswat Masriya
Egypt's National Council for Women will start a training program to enhance women's political participation in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections.

Egypt

Source: Businessweek
Women have gained little ground in political leadership around the world, with men still in about 80 percent of key elected and appointed positions, according to the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Gap Report.

Source: Lesotho Times
“Is it true that the bravery of Asante is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this: if you, the men of Asante, will not go forward, then we will.

Source: Analyst Liberia via AllAfrica
It has been some time since elaborate welcome ceremonies were organized in honor of President Sirleaf from a foreign visit. Liberian presidents, including the incumbent, have a tradition of arriving from abroad to lavish welcome back home programs organized by partisans, supporters and even the Government as a show of support or victory over domestic detractors.

Liberia

Source:Gender Links
Following a new gender-quota law for local elections that came into effect January 2012, gender activists believe that this may open the door for the country to reconsider its position with regards to signing the 2008 SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.