These Are All The Female Presidents In Africa

Despite the deeply rooted patriarchal system in our culture, women have still managed to beat the system and are taking over some of the leadership roles traditionally designated for men, including the highest seat in the country.

Did you know that Africa currently has two female presidents and only a total of 10 African women have ever served as president of their countries?

Here is a look at female presidents in Africa, starting with the current women presidents and past presidents.

Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania).

President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia is the other only female president in Africa currently.

She assumed the presidential office on the 25th of October 2018, following her appointment by The Federal Parliamentary Assembly, becoming the first female president in the country.

Before becoming president, Sahle-Work Zewde had a long diplomatic career. She served as an ambassador to Senegal, with accreditation to Cape Verde, Mali, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea, between 1989 and 1993. She was the ambassador to Djibouti and France.

Besides her ambassadorial positions, Sahle-Work also served as the Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

She served as the Director-General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (Mauritius).

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a former President of Liberia. She was the first elected female president of both Liberia and the whole of Africa.

Sirleaf vied for the presidency for the first time in 2005 and won with a 59% majority. She was sworn in on the 16th of January 2006 as the 24th president of Liberia and the first female president of the country.

She ran for a second term during the 2011 general election and won. She served her second and final time until 2018.

Joyce Banda (Malawi).

She became the president following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika and served until 2014. She vied for the presidency in 2014 but was defeated.

Women Presidents In Africa Under Acting Capacity.

Sylvie Kinigi (Burundi). Served as acting president from 27 October 1993 to 5 February 1994.

Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (South Africa). Served as acting president for 4 days in September 2005 and again for 14 hours on 25 September 2008.

Rose Francine Rogombe (Gabon). Served as the interim president of Gabon from 10 June 2009 to 16 October 2009 following the death of the then-president Omar Bongo.

Agnes Monique Ohsan Bellepeau (Mauritius). Served as acting president between 31 March 2012 to 21 July 2012 and again from 29 May 2015 to 5 June 2015.

Catherine Samba Panza (Central African Republic). Served as acting president from January 2014 to March 2016.

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