WHAT:      Fireside Conversation with Africa Female Presidents

WHEN:      13^th February 2026

TIME:        03:00 PM - 04:30 PM

WHERE:    Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  

WHO: AU Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE-WPS), UN Women, The Government of the Republic of Namibia, Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO), and African Women Leaders Network (AWLN)

WHY: The high-level Fireside event will provide a strategic platform to spotlight the leadership journeys of Africa’s female Presidents; assess progress and persistent gaps in implementing UNSCR 1325; and elevates the WPS-climate-water-security nexus within continental priorities.

The two Presidents that will be at Fireside Chat:

1. H.E Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, President of Namibia
2. H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia and first elected Africa Female President

Moderators: Ms. Sima Sami Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director and Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, African Union (AU) Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

Key Participants:

• AU Deputy Chairperson and AU Commissioners
• H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania
• Heads of State – Champions of Positive Masculinity and Gender, Youth, Peace and Security
• H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola
• H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi
• H.E. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros (AU Chairperson, 2023)
• H.E. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, African Union Champion for Gender and Development Issues
• H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal (Senegal previously hosted the AU Circle of Champions on Positive Masculinity Conference in 2022 under the leadership of H.E. Macky Sall)
• H.E. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa
• African Female Heads of State and Government (current and former)
• UN Agencies
• Youth leaders, and young women peacebuilders CSOs, women’s movements, feminist networks, AWLN chapters Development partners and diplomatic community Media and communication partners

Expected outcomes:

• A joint political appeal from female Presidents reaffirming commitment to accelerate women’s leadership and implementation of the WPS agenda
• Strengthened advocacy for ratification and implementation of AU-CEVAWG, and reinforcement of accountability mechanisms under the WPS agenda
• A set of recommendations for the AU Summit on advancing inclusive governance and accelerating women’s participation
• Inspiration and mentorship impact for young women leaders and peacebuilders attending the session.

Media Access:

Accredited members of the media are invited to cover the opening session and key highlights of the event.  

Media Contact:

Noel John | Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Email: Kenyin@africanunion.org