“We Had to Change the Thinking of Our Own People”

With the issue of women’s participation in politics still a sticky issue in Africa for a myriad of reasons, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has released a nugget of wisdom that sheds light on how his country accomplished the feat — a proven method other African nations could learn from.  

Speaking at the first Amujae High-Level Leadership Forum hosted by the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (the EJS Center) since before the COVID-19 pandemic, President Kagame described the change that had to be put in place in order for Rwanda to succeed in its mission of supporting women in public life. 

“When we started this process of rebuilding, the thing we discovered we had to do was to change the thinking of our own people,” he said, speaking of the need to advance women’s leadership and representation in Rwanda. 

Kagame discussed the means by which African nations can achieve gender equality in public leadership. Moderated by Binaifer Nowrojee, the  incoming President of the Open Society Foundations, the intimate conversation was an opportunity for Amujae Leaders to ask President Kagame how Rwanda achieved the world’s leading representation of women in its parliament.  

Held on 18 and 19 April, 2024 at the Kigali Convention Center in Rwanda, President Kagame, who was in attendance, was joined by H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, who shared a recorded message.  

In support of the EJS Center’s renowned Amujae Initiative, the Forum gathered a broad cross section of attendees, including present and former heads of state; government officials; private sector professionals; representatives from multilateral bodies and NGOs; AmujaeLeaders; and the EJS Center’s Board.  

Acting as an opportunity for Amujae Leaders to deepen their relationships and connections with  one another, the Forum brought together 28 Amujae Leaders from across the continent — many  of whom are senior government officials, activists, civil society leaders, development experts,  academics, and economists—for a two-day interactive workshop with leadership training exercises and keynote addresses.  

“Just look at the difference that leadership and continuity can do for the sustainability of development,” the former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said during her opening  remarks for the Forum. Sirleaf is also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Africa’s first democratically elected woman head of state. On the subject of advancing women’s leadership, Madam Sirleaf continued by saying, “Let’s be realistic. It takes others, it takes colleagues, it takes supporters, it  takes mentors, it takes partnership for us to achieve those goals… thank you to all of you Amujae leaders for helping to bring about a wave of emerging African women leaders.” 

The Forum was an opportunity for Amujae Leaders to refine their skills as accomplished women leaders, learn from one another, and exchange insights from their individual leadership journeys.  The Forum was an important moment for self-reflection and development for many of the Amujae Leaders, as many have their sights set on running for public office in various elections taking place throughout 2024. Tailor-made sessions for Amujae Leaders running election  campaigns provided them with not only the tools to run successful campaigns, but also the  confidence to lead a team, develop a coherent message, and listen to people’s concerns with empathy. 

The Amujae High-Level Leadership Forum is a milestone moment in the EJS Center’s  programming — it provides a space for Amujae Leaders to network with one another, engage with the EJS Center, and meet with high-level officials and organizations to advance their own  leadership journeys. Speaking of the importance of women’s leadership, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde addressed the Forum via a recorded message on the final day, stating, “We cannot just sit down  and watch. One of the critical measures is to bring more women in public leadership in Africa, including at the highest level.” 

The Amujae Initiative supports women in public leadership across Africa who have proven their dedication to their communities and to uplifting fellow women. It is the only initiative in the world  specifically designed to support accomplished African women leaders to advance in their public leadership journeys. For further information on the various Amujae Leader cohorts and the  initiative itself, visit the website. 

The EJS Center was founded in 2018 to be a catalyst for change across Africa by helping unleash  its most abundant untapped power — its women. Through a unique blend of programming,  advocacy, research, and exhibitions, the Center advances women’s public leadership and social  development on the continent. As the first democratically elected woman president in Africa,  Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is passionate about supporting the next  generation of women in public leadership.