ABSTRACT
One of the most important changes in the African post-independence political landscape has been the increased visibility of women in political leadership. This chapter looks at how African women began to gain ground in formal political institutions after the 1990s, including in executive offices, cabinets, national and local legislatures, the judiciary, ambassadorships, and regional and international organizations. It explores some of the main reasons for these changes, and the extent to which they diverge from global trends. The chapter looks, in particular, at three factors that influenced women’s emergence as new players in African politics after the 1990s: 1) political openings; 2) international pressures; and 3) postconflict factors. All of these factors facilitated the rise of women’s movements, which pressured governments for a variety of gender-related reforms, including women’s participation as political leaders. Often, countries employed gender quotas to increase representation of women, especially after the mid-1990s.
