Male leaders have dominated African leadership for the longest time. However, some women have defied the odds to rise and hold the highest positions as presidents. In this article, we take a look at the African women who have fought their way up the political ladder to sit at the top as presidents.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Sirleaf was the first woman to be elected president in Liberia and, indeed, in an African country. She served as a president from 2006 to 2018. Before that, Sirleaf worked in various capacities in the Liberian government. She worked as a deputy minister of Finance before rising to head the ministry and World Bank. Ellen not only won the 2006 election that made her president but was also re-elected in 2021. She also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. She was elected the chair of the Economic Community of West African states in 2016.
Sylvie Kinigi
Kinigi is the only female African leader to hold two high positions in Burundi. She was elected from 27 October 1993 to 5 February 1994 as an active president and prime minister in 1993. Kingi worked at Burundi’s central government and as an advisor to the prime minister to mention a few
Rose Francine Rogombe
After President Omar Bongo’s death, Rose Francine Rogombe served as an acting president of Gabon from June 2009 to October 2009. At the time of President Omar Bongo’s death, Rose was the president of the senate. She ascended to power based on Gabon’s constitution and became one of African women presidents.
Sahle-Work Zewde
Sahle is still the president of Ethiopia, elected in October 2018. She was the only elected African female president, not until Tanzania’s president, John Magufuli died and his then deputy president Suluhu Hassan took over. The country’s National Assembly unanimously elected Zewde as the first Ethiopia’s president.
