Africa’s Previous Female Heads of State

2021 – 2026: Samia Suluhu Tanzania first Female Heads of State following the death of John Pombe Mghufuli.

1993-4 – Sylvie Kinigi – caretaker President of Burundi, following the killing of Melchior Ndadaye

1996-7 – Ruth Perry – chair of Council of State after Liberia’s first civil war

2006-18 – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – elected President of Liberia

2009 – Rose Francine Rogombé – Interim President of Gabon following the death of Omar Bongo

2012 – Monique Ohsan-Bellepeau – Acting President of Mauritius, after the resignation of Sir Anerood Jugnauth

2012-14 – Joyce Banda – President of Malawi, after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika

2014-6 – Catherine Samba-Panza – transitional President of Central African Republic, elected by parliament

2015-8 – Ameenah Gurib-Fakim – President of Mauritius, elected by parliament

2018-present – Sahle-Work Zewde – President of Ethiopia, elected by parliament