Resistance to women's entry into African politics is fierce. Female representation in African parliaments grew by just 1% between 2021 and 2024. Gender parity, at this rate, will only be achieved by 2100. Women face violence, cultural prejudice, and systemic barriers to occupying positions of power in political systems that tend to be sexist.

The presence of women in African politics is progressing slowly. According to data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), female representation in the continent's parliaments rose from 25% to 26% in three years.

In November 2024, more than 50 female political leaders from East and Southern Africa gathered in Johannesburg for the WYDE Initiative dialogue. Organized by UN Women and IDEA, the event highlighted stories such as that of Lioness Sibanda, Secretary-General of Eswatini, who is fighting against cultural norms that relegate women to secondary roles.

Political violence, both physical and digital, emerges as another critical obstacle. Up to 66% of elected women experience some form of violence, but less than 20% of women report it.

Slow Progress

Progress in women's representation in global politics has been slow. Female representation in African parliaments increased by just one percentage point between 2021 and 2024, rising from 25% to 26%.

“At this rate, Africa will only achieve gender parity in its parliaments in the year 2100.”

“But this assumes a linear progression, which is unlikely, since, after countries reach the 30% mark, progress tends to slow down.”

Gram Mutenga, Regional Head of Programs at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA International), stated: "In November 2024, UN Women and IDEA International, with support from the European Union, organized the WYDE Women's Leadership Initiative regional dialogue in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The program brought together more than 50 female political leaders from East and Southern Africa for three days of exchanging ideas, sharing lessons and best practices, and networking.

Culture of Prejudice

One of the participants, Lioness Sibanda, holds the prominent position of Secretary-General of a political party in Eswatini. She tirelessly fights for democratic reforms while mentoring the next generation of female leaders:

“Eswatini has deeply rooted cultural and religious practices that still uphold the belief that a woman cannot be on the front lines or command men and tell them what to do.”

“I have worked hard to fight for women's rights in Eswatini, but because I am a woman, I am not taken seriously.”

Sibanda added that her work as a politician is recognized mainly by leaders of organizations that advocate for democratic reforms, and that it is still difficult to convince voters of the benefits of electing women to public office.

Another challenge faced by female political leaders is violence, including gender-based violence facilitated by technology. Sibanda is well aware of this reality, revealing that she needs to be constantly alert to threats to her life.

Data obtained by UN Women, based on five national surveys in Asia and the Arab States, show that up to two-thirds of women elected to local government experience violence, but less than 20% file formal complaints. Reinforcing this point, Hazel Gooding, UN Women Deputy Representative for the South Africa Multi-Country Office, stated:

“We know that violence against women in politics weakens democracy by silencing voices and deterring future leaders.”

“It is our collective duty to protect them, for example, through the creation and enforcement of laws, support for victims, protection and access to justice, training of police officers and advocacy, to change mentalities and social norms.”

Violence and Exclusion

Betty Milgo, Secretary-General for Persons with Disabilities in Kenya's ruling party, is also a teacher and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Her path in politics has not been easy:

“My community is patriarchal and many don't understand the types of disabilities that exist, including albinism,” he explains.

Milgo stressed that women politicians urgently need greater visibility and institutional support to promote their participation in politics.

For women like Motamma Horatius, a Botswana politician who also participated in the dialogue, slow progress comes at a high cost. For five years, she led one of Itumeleng's wards as a Councilor. She recalls one of the biggest challenges of her career: running for office while pregnant.

“I had to wear extra-large dresses to hide my pregnancy during the campaign, to avoid being seen as a weakness.”

"Culturally, they say a pregnant woman can't manage. I won the primary elections without anyone knowing I was pregnant," Horatius says.

Immediately after winning the election, she gave birth, but took only two weeks' leave, while articles appeared in the press questioning her absence.

“I had a cesarean section and, days later, there was already an uproar.”

“'Where is he? He has abandoned his constituents. He cannot serve,' were some of the top headlines.”

“Two weeks after giving birth, I was campaigning again, this time for the general elections,” she recalls.

These experiences reveal the numerous, unique systemic barriers faced by female politicians and candidates. These challenges are rooted in deeply ingrained social and cultural norms that dictate specific expectations about female behavior and impose restrictions on what they can and cannot achieve.

Collective Strategies

When asked what female political leaders want and need, Horatius, Milgo, and Sibanda shared similar perspectives. They emphasized the importance of robust mental health support systems to deal with the unique pressures of public life, particularly the widespread violence against women in politics.

Equally crucial is the need for comprehensive training and education programs to equip women with the skills and confidence to excel in leadership roles. Based on these insights, the Regional Dialogue participants identified additional strategies to promote the participation of women and young people in leadership and decision-making.

These include: financial support and promotion of economic independence for women and young candidates; challenging restrictive social norms through educational and advocacy campaigns; balanced media coverage; and increasing the visibility of female role models.

Finally, capacity building through training and mentoring, as provided by the WYDE Women's Leadership Initiative, was recognized as essential, along with addressing intersectional challenges and violence against women in politics. Only by collectively addressing these barriers can the political landscape evolve to prepare and value women leaders.

WYDE | Female Leadership

Funded by the European Union, the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) initiative is a collaborative global effort that aims to promote the full and effective participation of women in politics and decision-making at all levels, especially the most marginalized.

The initiative is implemented by UN Women, IDEA International, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), driven by the European Union, which seeks to strengthen and reinforce the rights and participation in public and political life of women and young people, recognized as key actors in development and change.

Conclusion

Strategies to break down barriers include financial support, robust training, and balanced media visibility. The WYDE dialogue participants advocate for the creation of mentoring networks for young leaders and the intersectional fight against gender-based violence.

The EU-funded WYDE Initiative emerges as a beacon of hope for accelerating female participation. Implemented by organizations such as UN Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, it aims to "prepare and develop the leaders of the future." The road is long, but to achieve this, we must always take the first step.