Women’s political engagement in Africa: a gradual rise despite the challenges

Like the global trend, women are playing an increasingly important role in the governance of countries in Africa.  According to data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women, sub-Saharan Africa recorded the largest increase in women’s representation in parliaments in 2023 compared to previous elections in the same countries.  In January 2023, women represented 26.5% of parliamentarians and about 25% of ministers.  There are, however, disparities across countries.  Countries with nearly 50% women in ministerial posts were: Mozambique (55%), South Africa (48%) and Rwanda (48%) and at parliamentary level, Rwanda (61%), South Africa (46%) and Senegal (46%).  Moreover, the world record for the number of seats held by women in a parliament goes to an African country, Rwanda.  Among the last in the class are Chad, Gambia, Nigeria and Benin at the parliamentary level.  Over the same period, two African countries had women Heads of State: Tanzania and Ethiopia;  3 countries had women heads of government: Togo, Tunisia and Gabon and 14 countries had women speakers of parliament [5].  In the past, those who managed to break the glass ceiling by becoming Heads of State are Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia, Joyce Banda, Malawi, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Mauritius, and Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic. In addition to women who occupy important positions in political bodies, We are witnessing the emergence on the African political scene of several women activists who move the lines and play an important role in the awareness of African populations. They are political analysts, journalists, columnists, bloggers, etc.

The rise of women in politics in Africa is due to several factors.  First, the various actions to empower women, such as the laws that have been adopted to guarantee gender equality and the protection of women’s rights, have greatly contributed to involving more women in politics.  Then, some measures were put in place to promote gender parity in the political sphere such as the quota principle established in nearly 40 African countries  [6]ranging from parity laws to legislated quotas, through so-called reserved seats and voluntary quotas for political parties.  Even if this principle is criticized as favorable to tokenism, it helps deconstruct the feeling of inaccessibility to the political scene among women.  Finally, the increasing visibility that women politicians enjoy in the media makes it possible to democratize this image among the population. 

Yet women still face many challenges in politics.  First, the lack of socio-economic emancipation hinders the progress of African women in politics because as long as they continue to suffer discrimination in the social and economic fields, they will face difficulties in achieving the desired equality in the political field.  Second, the lack of political will in some African countries hinders women’s progress in the political sphere.  The quota principle is not really respected in many countries.  In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, Law No. 2019-870 of 14 October 2019 grants 30% quotas in elected assemblies  .  however, in 2023, several women’s rights organizations denounce the non-compliance with this law.  On the question of the roles assigned to them, we note that the portfolios held by women ministers mainly cover social themes and less topics such as economy, defence, justice or home affairs.  In January 2023, globally, women held 84% of the portfolios dedicated to “Women and Gender Equality”, 68% of “Family and Children’s Affairs” and 50% of “Social Inclusion”.  Women politicians also face verbal and/or physical assaults in political spaces, ranging from misogynistic comments to physical or moral harassment.  In addition to the challenges mentioned above, reconciling professional and personal life remains a major challenge for many women politicians. 

In sum, although the political commitment of women in Africa has increased significantly in recent years, it is necessary to accelerate this movement in order to achieve better gender parity in the political sphere. A balanced representation of men and women in political decision-making promotes democracy and more inclusive policy-making. On the other hand, women politicians demonstrate skills and leadership equivalent to their male counterparts. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said