Women have played a pivotal role in shaping foreign policy in Africa

The role of women in shaping foreign policy in Africa has gradually gained recognition as a vital component in the continent’s political and diplomatic landscape. African women are increasingly asserting their influence in foreign policy decision-making processes, and their participation is essential in crafting policies that prioritize gender equality, social justice, and inclusive development[1].

Women in African foreign policy leadership have demonstrated their impact through various high-profile roles across diplomatic, governmental, and international organizations. Notable figures include South Africa’s Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; Uganda’s Winnie Byanyima, former Executive Director of Oxfam International, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African woman to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organization; and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma former Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Their prior experience in domestic foreign policy roles enabled them to rise to these prominent international positions, showcasing the importance of women’s inclusion in national diplomacy for broader global influence[2]

The emergence of feminist foreign policy (FFP) perspectives in Africa is reshaping how the continent engages with international affairs. African feminists argue that foreign policy should go beyond traditional gender equality to honour intersectional justice, anti-imperialism, and decolonization. They advocate for a foreign policy framework rooted in African feminist principles, such as the African Feminist Charter and the Maputo Protocol, which emphasize human rights and social justice from an Afrocentric perspective[3]. This approach challenges the dominant neoliberal and Eurocentric paradigms in international relations. African women have historically been excluded from the knowledge production on foreign policy, but they are now pushing for a more proactive role in defining policies that reflect their lived realities and priorities, including issues of global health, climate change, and migration [4].

Regional institutions like the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are important platforms for promoting women’s leadership in foreign affairs. These bodies help harmonize foreign policy initiatives that integrate feminist priorities and advocate for resource allocation, accountability, and inclusive governance. African women diplomats and policymakers often face structural challenges, including limited representation, resource constraints, and the complexity of coordinating across diverse countries with different socio-political landscapes. The obstacles include the following.

Historical and Institutional Gender Bias: Historically, diplomacy has been a male-dominated field, with women frequently confined to supportive roles such as diplomatic spouses or community volunteers, rather than being decision-makers. Women diplomats are still routinely given less important or economically marginal jobs, whereas men work in important global cities that shape big economic diplomacy[5].

Patriarchal Societal Norms: Deeply entrenched patriarchy in many African societies assigns women to domestic roles and perceives men as natural leaders. This cultural bias undermines women’s acceptance and trust as leaders in foreign policy, viewing leadership as a masculine trait. Women diplomats frequently face scepticism regarding their capabilities and require male accompaniment in high-level meetings to be taken seriously[6].

Political Dynamics and Appointments: Diplomatic appointments are often controlled by heads of state and political leaders who may prefer loyal male allies over female candidates. This politicized appointment process limits opportunities for women who push for transformational leadership, especially in hyper-masculine political environments.

Structural and Informal Barriers in Foreign Affairs Ministries: Women face both formal obstacles—such as unequal access to promotions—and informal cultural dynamics including exclusion from influential networks and informal power structures, which hamper their progression to senior leadership positions[7].

Intersectional Challenges: Women with disabilities in Africa face compounded barriers of gender and disability discrimination, which further reduce their representation in foreign policy leadership[8].

Discriminatory Laws and Gendered Political Frameworks: Many African countries still have formal and informal legal structures and political systems that do not fully support gender equality. These include electoral systems, political party dynamics, and appointment mechanisms that favour men, effectively diminishing women's chances to represent their countries in global foreign policy forums[9].

• Tokenism and Marginalization in Diplomatic Posts: Even when women are appointed to diplomatic positions, they are often assigned to less influential or economically marginal postings rather than key global capitals. This limits their ability to engage in high-level, impactful foreign policy deliberations and diminishes their visibility and influence.
• Work-Life Balance and Gender Role Expectations: Societal expectations around women's responsibilities for caregiving and family make it challenging to maintain demanding roles that require travel and long deployments abroad, which are typical in diplomatic careers. This conflict discourages many women from pursuing or sustaining foreign policy leadership roles.
• Lack of Adequate Support Structures: There is often an absence of gender-sensitive policies and institutional reforms within foreign ministries and international diplomatic bodies to support women's inclusion and leadership. This includes insufficient measures to combat gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination that women may face in these environments[10].

These structural barriers collectively limit African women’s substantive involvement in global foreign policy discussions, despite international commitments to gender equality. Overcoming these requires comprehensive legal reforms, capacity-building, gender mainstreaming in foreign policy institutions, and societal shifts to dismantle patriarchal norms.

Women’s roles extend beyond formal diplomacy to peacebuilding and security, where their involvement in international negotiations and policy formulation has shown to contribute to more sustainable and equitable outcomes. Their experiences as both civilians and combatants in conflicts inform policies aimed at conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction, emphasizing gender-sensitive approaches to peace and security[11]. Nevertheless, progress is evident in several countries, with Rwanda, for example, leading in female parliamentary representation, which indirectly strengthens women’s influence on foreign policy[12].

This evolving role calls for continued support through regional collaboration, capacity-building, and acknowledgment of African women as key architects of their nations' foreign policy agendas and global contributions[13].

African women’s participation in shaping foreign policy is a critical driver of more inclusive, equitable, and transformative international relations for the continent. Their leadership not only challenges existing power asymmetries but also integrates feminist and Afrocentric perspectives into foreign policy, advancing Africa’s position in global diplomacy.

The role of women in shaping foreign policy in Africa is no longer peripheral but has become an indispensable dimension of the continent’s global engagement. As demonstrated, women leaders bring transformative perspectives that prioritize gender equality, inclusive governance, and justice-driven diplomacy. Their contributions challenge entrenched patriarchal structures while introducing feminist and Afrocentric frameworks that enrich international relations. Despite persistent barriers—ranging from structural biases to socio-political constraints—African women continue to assert themselves as architects of policy that resonates with the continent’s realities and aspirations. Moving forward, dismantling systemic barriers, strengthening regional cooperation, and embedding feminist principles in foreign policy are essential to ensuring that African women’s leadership is fully realized in global diplomacy. Their inclusion is not only a matter of equity but a prerequisite for building more sustainable and inclusive foreign policy frameworks for Africa and the world at large.

Yolokazi Mfuto is a DDP Communications strategist and write in her personal capacity.

References

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies. (2018, July). Women participation. https://www.acdhrs.org/2018/07/women-participation/

African Leadership Magazine. (n.d.). Strategies and obstacles in the pursuit of gender parity in African politics. https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/strategies-and-obstacles-in-the-pursuit-of-gender-parity-in-african-politics/

African Union. (2003). Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. https://au.int/en/treaties/protocol-african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights-rights-women-africa

African Arguments. (2024, August). The continent falling behind: Africa’s placement in the global feminist foreign policy discourse. https://africanarguments.org/2024/08/the-continent-falling-behind-africas-placement-in-the-global-feminist-foreign-policy-discourse/

Diplomatist. (2024, March 23). Role of women in shaping foreign policy. https://diplomatist.com/2024/03/23/role-of-women-in-shaping-foreign-policy/

European Institute for International Relations. (2021, May 6). The status of African women in foreign policy. E-International Relations. https://www.e-ir.info/2021/05/06/the-status-of-african-women-in-foreign-policy/

Good Governance Africa. (n.d.). Closing the gender gap in Africa. https://gga.org/closing-the-gender-gap-in-africa/

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. (2024, March 7). Scorecard: Women’s political participation and representation in Africa. https://www.idea.int/news/scorecard-womens-political-participation-and-representation-africa

South Africa–Canada Research Partnership. (2020, May). Women in diplomacy in Africa. https://www.southafrica-canada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Women-in-Diplomacy-in-Africa-website.pdf

South African Institute of International Affairs. (2023, July 20). Women grossly under-represented in international politics. https://saiia.org.za/research/women-grossly-under-represented-in-international-politics/

United Nations Development Programme. (2022, June 8). Breaking barriers: Empowering women in diplomacy for a more inclusive future. https://www.undp.org/bosnia-herzegovina/blog/breaking-barriers-empowering-women-diplomacy-more-inclusive-future

Université Monarch. (2024, October 6). Women in leadership: Breaking barriers in African management. https://umonarch.ch/2024/10/06/women-in-leadership-breaking-barriers-in-african-management/

[1] https://gga.org/closing-the-gender-gap-in-africa/

[2] https://www.e-ir.info/2021/05/06/the-status-of-african-women-in-foreign-policy/

[3] https://au.int/en/treaties/protocol-african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights-rights-women-africa

[4] https://africanarguments.org/2024/08/the-continent-falling-behind-africas-placement-in-the-global-feminist-foreign-policy-discourse/

[5] https://www.e-ir.info/2021/05/06/the-status-of-african-women-in-foreign-policy/

[6] https://umonarch.ch/2024/10/06/women-in-leadership-breaking-barriers-in-african-management/

[7] https://www.undp.org/bosnia-herzegovina/blog/breaking-barriers-empowering-women-diplomacy-more-inclusive-future

[8] https://www.idea.int/news/scorecard-womens-political-participation-and-representation-africa

[9] https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/strategies-and-obstacles-in-the-pursuit-of-gender-parity-in-african-politics/

[10] https://saiia.org.za/research/women-grossly-under-represented-in-international-politics/

[11] https://www.acdhrs.org/2018/07/women-participation/

[12] https://www.southafrica-canada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Women-in-Diplomacy-in-Africa-website.pdf

[13] https://diplomatist.com/2024/03/23/role-of-women-in-shaping-foreign-policy/