This is a list of political offices in Africa which have been held by a woman, with details of the first woman holder of each office. It is ordered by the countries in Africa and by dates of appointment. Please observe that this list is meant to contain only the first woman to hold of a political office, and not all the female holders of that office.

Algeria

Antiquity Monarch – Tin Hinan – 4th century

Republic Secretary of State of Social Affairs – Z'hour Ounissi – 1982 Vice-Minister of Education – Leila Khira Taib – 1984 Minister of Social Affairs – Z'hour Ounissi – 1984 Minister of Education (And third in the Cabinet) – Z'hour Ounissi – 1986 Minister of Health – Nafissa Lalliam – 1991 Minister of Youth and Sports – Leïla Aslaoui – 1991 Minister of State for National Solidarity – Saida Benhabyles – 1992 Minister-Councillor for Juridical and Administrative Questions – Meriem Belmilhoub Zerdani – 1993 Secretary of State for National Solidarity and the Family – Aïcha Hénia Semichi – 1995 Minister of National Solidarity and Family – Rabéa Mechrane – 1997 Secretary of State of Culture – Zahia Benarous – 1997 Minister of Culture – Khalida Toumi – 2002; Nadia Labidi – 2014 Minister of Education – Nouria Benghabrit-Remaoun – 2014 Minister of Land-Use Planning and Environment – Dalila Boudjemaa – 2014 Minister of Family and Women – Mounia Meslem – 2014 Minister of Post, Information Technology and Communication Women – Zahra Dardouri – 2014 Minister of Tourism – Nouria Yamina Zerhouni – 2014 Minister of Artisana & Handicrafts – Aish Tabagho – 2014

Angola Vice-Minister of Internal Trade – Maria Mambo Café – 1977 Minister of Social Affairs – Maria Mambo Café – 1982 Minister of Fisheries – Maria de Fátima Mateiro Jardim – 1992–2002 Minister for Public Works and Urban Planning – Albina Faria de Assis Pereira Africano – 1992–1993 Minister of Petroleum – Albina Faria de Assis Pereira Africano – 1993–1999 Minister of Culture – Ana Maria de Oliveira – 1995–1999 Minister of Women’s Affairs – Joana Lina Ramos Baptista Cristiano – 1997–1999 Minister of Industry – Albina Faria de Assis Pereira Africano – 1999–2002 Minister of Health – Albertina Julia Nauosse Hamukuya – 2000–2004 Minister of Justice – Guilhermina Contreiras da Costa Prata – 2008–2012

Benin

Minister of Public Health – Rafiatou Karimou – 1989 Minister of Labour and Social Affairs – Veronique Ahayo Ahogo – 1990–1993 Minister of Commerce – Sikirath Kissira Aguemon – 1995 Minister of Justice and Legislation, Keeper of the Seals – Grace d'Almeida – 1995–1996 Minister of Education and Scientific Research – Conceptia Ouinsou – 1998 Minister of Social Welfare and Women’s Condition – Ramatou Baba-Moussa – 1998–2000 Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training – Léa Hounkpè – 2003–2005 Minister of Public Works and Transport – Marie Jeanne Omichessan – 2005–2006 Foreign minister – Mariam Aladji Boni Diallo – 2006

Botswana

Minister of Trade and Industry – Gaositwe K.T. Chiepe – 1974 Minister of Home Affairs – Kebatshabile Disele – 1980–1984 Foreign minister – Gaositwe K.T. Chiepe – 1985 Minister of Local Government, Lands and Housing – Margaret Nasha – 1997–1998 Minister of Health – Joy Phymaphi – 1999–2003 Chairperson of the House of Chiefs – Mosadi Seboko – 2003Guide2Women Leaders Minister of Justice – Lesego Motsumi – 2010–2011

Burkina Faso Minister of Social Welfare, Housing and Labour – Célestine Ouezzin Coulibaly – 1958 Minister of Social Affairs and the Condition of Women – Madame Traoré Moïse Alassane – 1978–1989 Minister of National Education and Culture – Konaté Domba – 1978–1980 Minister of Justice – Marie Louise Nignan-Bassolet – 1982–1983 Minister of Finance – Bintou Sango – 1988–1999

Burundi

Minister for Women's Questions – Euphrasie Kandeke – 1982 Prime Minister – Sylvie Kinigi – 1993 President (acting) – Sylvie Kinigi – 1993 Minister of Justice – Clotilde Niragira – 2005–2007 Foreign minister – Antoinette Batumubwira – 2006

Cameroon Member of Parliament (appointed) – Dorcas Idowu – 1955 Member of Parliament (elected) – Julienne Keutcha – 1960 Vice-Minister of Health and Public Welfare – Delphine Zanga Tsogo – 1970 Minister of Social Affairs – Delphine Zanga Tsogo – 1975 Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice – Feh Helen Kwanga Galega – 2020

Cape Verde

Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture and Rural Development – Maria Helena Nobre de Morais Querido Semedo – 1993 Minister of Justice – Januaria Moreira – 1999–2001 Foreign minister – Fátima Veiga – 2002 Defence minister – Cristina Fontes Lima – 2006

Central African Republic

Member of Parliament – Marthe Matongo – 1964 Government minister (Social Affairs) – Marie-Joséphe Franck – 1970 Prime Minister – Elisabeth Domitien – 1975 Minister of Finance – Marie-Christine Mboukou – 1975–1976 Foreign minister – Léonie Banga-Bothy – 2013 Head of State – Catherine Samba-Panza – 2014 Minister of Justice – Isabelle Gaudeuille – 2014–2016

Chad Minister of Parliament – Bourkou Louise Kabo – 1962 Minister of Social Affairs and Women – Fatimé Kimto – 1982–1984 Minister for Finance and Computer-Industry – Alina Mangodjo – 1994–1995 Minister of Planning and Communication – Mariam Mahamat Nour – 1994–1996 Minister of Environment and Water – Mariam Mahamat Nour – 1997–1998 Minister of Youth and Sport – Koya Maiboula Dabovlai – 1999–2000 Minister of Touristic Development – Akia Abouna – 2002–2003 Minister of General State Control and Moralisation – Mariam Ali Moussa – 2004–2005

Comoros

Secretary of State for Population and the Condition of Women – Sittou Raghadat Mohamed – 1991 (First female appointed to a senior government position) Minister of Social Affairs, Labour and Employment – Sittou Raghadat Mohamed – 1993 Member of the Assembly of the Union of the Comoros – Djoueria Abdallah – 2004

Congo-Brazzaville

Members of Parliament – Micheline Golengo, Pierrette Kombo and Mambou Aimée Gnali – 1963 Minister of Public Service – Charlotte Kisimba – 1970 Minister of Social Affairs – Emilie Manima – 1975 Minister of Primary Education – Bernadette Bayone – 1984 Minister of Labour and Social Affairs – Jeanne Dambendzet – 1989

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zaire Minister of Social Affairs – Sophie Kanza – 1967 Foreign minister – Ekila Liyonda – 1987

Republic Chief of Staff (Prime Minister) – Marie-Thérèse Nlandu Mpolo Nene Speaker of the National Assembly – Jeanine Mabunda – 2019

Djibouti Deputy Head of State – Khadija Abeba – 1992 Cabinet member (Minister-Delegate for the Promotion of Women, Family and Social Affairs) – Hawa Ahmed Youssouf – 1999 Cabinet Minister (Minister in charge of the Promotion of Women, Family Welfare and Social Affairs) – Aïcha Mohamed Robleh – 2005 Minister of National Education and Higher Learning – Nimo Boulhan Houssein – 2009–2011 Minister of Settlements, Urbanisation and Environment – Hasna Barkat Daoud – 2009–2013

Egypt

Ancient Pharaoh (monarch) – Sobekneferu – 1806 BC (First known female Head of State in history)

Republic Member of Parliament – Rawya Ateya and Amina Shukri – 1957Goldschmidt 2000, p. 26Karam 1998, p. 44 (First female Member of Parliament in the Arab world) Minister (for Social Affairs) – Dr. Hikmat Abu Zayd – 1962–1965 Ambassador of Egypt – Aisha Rateb – 1979 Minister of State for Scientific Research – Venice Kamel Gouda – 1993–1998 Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade – Nawal El Tatawy – 1996–1997 Mayor – Eva Habil, (Komboha, Dairut, Asyut) – 2008 Governor – Nadia Ahmed Abdou –2013

Equatorial Guinea Member of Parliament – Cristina Makoli and Lorenza Matute – 1968 Minister of Women's Participation – Christina Ndjombe Ndjangani – 1978 Minister of Labour and Employment – Evangelina Oyo Ebule – 2006–2008 Minister of Justice – Evangelina Filomena Oyo Ebule – 2015–2018

Eritrea

Minister of Justice – Fozia Hashim – 1993 Minister of Tourism – Worku Tesfamichael – 1994–1997 Minister of Labour and Human Welfare – Askalu Menkerios –

Ethiopia

Monarch – Empress Zewditu – 1916 Member of Parliament – Senedu Gebru – 1957 Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs – Youdith Imre – 1966 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs – Youdith Imre – 1971 Minister of Education – Woizero Mary Tadesso – 1991 Minister of Health – Adanetch Kidane Miriam – 1991 Leader of a Political Party (Unity for Democracy and Justice Party) – Birtukan Mideksa – 2009 President – Sahle-Work Zewde – 2018 Mayor of Addis Ababa – Adanech Abebe – 2021

Gabon

Member of Parliament – Virginie Ambougou and Antoinette Tsono – 1961 Minister of Social Affairs and Women – Antoniette Oliveira – 1980 Minister of Justice – Sophie Diouly – 1987–1989 Foreign minister – Pascaline Mferri Bongo – 1991 Minister of Public Health and Population – Lucie M'ba – 1991–1992 Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reform – Paulette Moussaune – 1991–1993 President (interim) – Rose Francine Rogombé – 2009 Speaker of the Senate – Rose Francine Rogombé – 2009 Minister of National Defense – Angélique Ngoma – 2009–2011

The Gambia

Member of Parliament – Lucretia St. Clair Joof – 1968 Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture – Louise N'Jie – 1982 Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Gambia – Hawa Sisay-Sabally 1996–1998 Vice President – Isatou Njie-Saidy – 1997 Foreign minister – Susan Waffa-Ogoo – 2012 Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources – Teneng Mba Jaiteh – 2013–2014 Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources – Rohey John Manjang – 2022

Ghana

Member of Parliament – Mabel Dove Danquah – 1954 Minister of Social Affairs – Suzanna Al-Hassan – 1963 Foreign minister – Gloria Amon Nikoi – 1979 Minister of Education – Mariama Dielo Bary – 1990–1992 Minister of Trade, Transport and Tourism – Nathenien Camara – 1992–1994 Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Forests – Makalé Camara– 1992–1994 Minister of Justice and Attorney General – Betty Mould-Iddrisu – 2009–2011 Speaker of Parliament – Joyce Bamford-Addo – 2009–2013

Guinea

Secretary of State for Social Affairs – Camara Loffo – 1961 Minister of Social Affairs – Jeanne Martin-Cissé – 1976 Foreign minister – Mahawa Bangoura – 2000 Minister of Justice – Paulette Kourouma – 2007–2008 Minister of Economy and Finance – Malado Kaba – 2016–2018

Guinea-Bissau

Minister of Health and Social Affairs – Carmen Pereira – 1981 President of Guinea-Bissau (acting) – Carmen Pereira – May 1984 Presidential candidate in Guinea-Bissau – Antoineta Rosa Gomes – 1994, 1999 and 2005 Minister of the Interior – Francisca Pereira – 1997–1999 Foreign minister – Hilia Barber – 1999 Minister of Justice – Antoineta Rosa Gomes – 2000–2001 Defence minister – Filomena Mascarenhas Tipote – 2005 Prime Minister (acting) – Adiato Djaló Nandigna – 2012

Ivory Coast Minister for Women's Affairs – Jeanne Gervais – 1976 Minister of Education – Odette Koumaé N'Guesson – 1984–1990 Minister of Culture – Henriette Dagri Diabaté – 1990–1993 Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals – Jacqueline Oble – 1991–1994 Minister of Communication – Danièle-Marie-Ablane Akissi Boni-Claverie – 1994–1999 Minister of Sports – Sidibé Soumaharo – 1996–1999 Minister of Energy – Safiatou Françoise Ba-N'Daw – 1999–2002

Kenya

Member of Parliament – Sidney Farrar – 1938"News in Brief", The Times, 29 March 1938, p.15, Issue 47955. Mayor of Nairobi – Lady Gwladys Delamere – 1938 Assistant Minister of Housing and Social Services – Julia Ojiambo – 1974 Minister of National Heritage, Culture and Social Affairs – Winifred Nyiva Kitili Mwendwa – 1995 Minister of Water Resources – Martha Wangari Karua – 2003–2005 Minister of Health – Charity Kaluki Ngilu – 2003–2007 Minister of Justice – Martha Karua – 2006–2009 Minister of Constitutional Affairs – Martha Karua – 2008 Foreign minister – Amina Mohamed – 2013 Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs – Amina Mohamed – 2013 Cabinet Secretary for Defence – Raychelle Omamo – 2013–2020