IWD special: 24 African women who have made history as presidents, national leaders

The rise of African women in leadership aligns with International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations, which emphasize gender equality and the empowerment of women in decision-making.

The International Women's Day (IWD) 2025 campaign theme, "Accelerate Action," aligns strongly with the growing momentum of African women in national leadership positions.

This theme underscores the urgency of advancing gender equality, especially in governance, where African women continue to break barriers and redefine political landscapes.

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The most recent milestone is Namibia's election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as its first female president, marking a historic moment for gender representation in Southern Africa.

Similarly, Ghana elected Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as its first female vice president, joining other African nations in advancing women’s leadership at the highest levels of government.

Africa has witnessed several women rise to the highest levels of leadership, assuming roles as presidents, prime ministers, and acting heads of state, either through elections, constitutional succession, or interim appointments.

These female leaders have had to overcome significant challenges, including gender bias, heightened scrutiny, and political resistance.

However, their success is reshaping the political landscape, inspiring more women to pursue leadership roles across the continent

The IWD 2025 campaign theme, "Accelerate Action," aligns strongly with the growing momentum of African women in national leadership positions Google

Some of the notable female presidents, prime ministers include:

ELECTED

1. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim – Mauritius (June 2015 – March 2018)

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was elected President of Mauritius in 2015 after the resignation of Kailash Purryag. She was unanimously chosen by the National Assembly but later resigned amid a financial controversy.

2. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Liberia (January 2006 – January 2018)

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made history as Africa’s first elected female President. She won Liberia’s 2005 and 2011 elections, serving two terms. In 2016, she became the first woman to chair the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

3. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – Namibia (December 2024 - )

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became Namibia’s first female President after winning the 2024 election. She previously served as Vice President and played a key role in Namibia’s political landscape as a long-time member of the ruling SWAPO party.

4. Catherine Samba-Panza - (CAR - 23 January 2014 – 30 March 2016)

She was elected interim president of the Central African Republic in 2014, making her the first woman to hold the post. She took over after CAR’S former leader, Michel Djotodia, resigned following pressure from regional leaders.

Interim/Acting/Successors

5. Sylvie Kiningi – Burundi (October 1993 – February 1994, Acting President)

Sylvie Kiningi became Africa’s first female head of state when she served as acting President of Burundi following the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye. As Prime Minister, she led a transitional government during the crisis.

6. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri – South Africa (Acting President - 2005, 2008,)

Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri briefly served as South Africa’s acting President in 2008 when both the President and Vice President were out of the country. She was also interim head of state for 14 hours in 2008 after Thabo Mbeki’s resignation, before Kgalema Motlanthe took office.

7. Joyce Banda – Malawi (April 2012 – May 2014)

Joyce Banda became Malawi’s first female President after the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. In 2014, Forbes ranked her the most powerful woman in Africa and the 40th most powerful woman in the world.

8. Sahle-Work Zewde – Ethiopia (October 2018 – October 2024)

Sahle-Work Zewde became Ethiopia’s first female President in 2018, elected by the National Parliamentary Assembly. Before her presidency, she served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to the African Union.

These female leaders have had to overcome significant challenges, including gender bias, heightened scrutiny, and political resistance Africa.com

9. Rose Francine Rogombé (Gabon, 2009)

Served as acting president after the death of Omar Bongo.

She took over as acting president when Omar Bondo took ill in January 2009. She later handed over the government to the newly elected president, Ali Bongo on October 16, 2009.

10. Samia Suluhu Hassan - (Tanzania - 2021)

Samia is a Tanzanian politician who has served as president of Tanzania since 2021.

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She was sworn in after the death of the late president, John Magufuli in March 2021. She is the first woman to serve as president of the country.

11. Agnès Monique Ohsan Bellepeau (Mauritius 2012, 2015)

Agnes was acting president of Mauritius from 31 March 2012 to 21 July 2012 when Sir Anerood Jugnauth resigned up to the inauguration of Kailash Purryag to the office. She again acted as president from 29 May 2015 to 5 June 2015 when Kailash Purryag resigned up to the inauguration of Ameenah Gurib to the office.

Prime Ministers

12. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Saara

She has been the Namibian Prime Minister since 21 March 2015; She served as Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2015. She is the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Namibia.

13. Luísa Dias Diogo

Luísa Dias Diogo is a Mozambican politician who served as Prime Minister of Mozambique from February 2004 to January 2010. She replaced Pascoal Mocumbi, who had been Prime Minister for the previous nine years

14. Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa

Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa served as the 11th prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe between 7 October 2002 and 18 September 2004. She was a key figure in the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party and became the first woman head of government in the country

15. Mame Madior Boye

Mame Madior Boye is a Senegalese politician who served as Prime Minister of Senegal from 2001 to 2002. She was the first woman to hold that position

16. Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda

Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda is a Gabonese politician who served as the vice president of Gabon from January to August 2023, making her the country's first female vice president. She previously served as Prime Minister of Gabon from July 2020 to January 2023, she was also the country's first female prime minister.

17. Victoire Sidémého Dzidudu Dogbé Tomegah

Victoire Sidémého Dzidudu Dogbé Tomegah is a Togolese politician who has served as the prime minister of Togo since 28 September 2020. She is the first woman to hold the office

18. Elizabeth Domitien

Elisabeth Domitien served as the prime minister of the Central African Republic from 1975 to 1976. She was the first and to date only woman to hold the position, and was the first woman to serve as prime minister of a country in Africa.

19. Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé

Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé was a Malian politician and the Prime Minister of Mali at the time of the 2012 Malian coup d'état. She was the first female prime minister in the country's history.

20. Aminata Touré

Aminata Touré, born in Dakar, Senegal in 1962, is a prominent politician and human rights activist who served as Senegal’s Prime Minister from 2013 to 2014, becoming the second woman to hold this position in the country.

21. Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira

Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira served as the 13th prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 8 June 2005 to 21 April 2006.

22. Agathe Uwilingiyimana

Agathe Uwilingiyimana, sometimes known as Madame Agathe, was a Rwandan political figure. She served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 18 July 1993 until her assassination on 7 April 1994, during the opening stages of the Rwandan genocide

23. Robinah Nabbanja

Robinah Nabbanja is a Ugandan educator and politician who serves as the Prime Minister of Uganda, having been nominated to the office on 8 June 2021 becoming the 11th person and first female, to occupy the office since Uganda became independent in 1962.. She was formally confirmed by the Parliament on 21 June 2021.

24. Najla Bouden Romdhane

Najla Bouden, also known as Najla Bouden Romdhane, is a Tunisian geologist and university professor who served as the prime minister of Tunisia from October 2021 to August 2023. She took office on 11 October 2021, making her the first female prime minister in Tunisia.

These remarkable women have shaped Africa’s political history, proving that leadership knows no gender.