Africa: AWLN Convenes High-Level Meetings to Advance Women's Leadership on the Margins of the 39th African ...
AllAfrica
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) held significant high-level meetings on the margins of the 39th African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa on February 13, 2026. These meetings included a closed session and the Ninth Edition of the Empowering Women in Agriculture (EWA) Breakfast, marking a pivotal moment as AWLN prepares for its 10th anniversary in 2027. The event brought together prominent figures such as H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, President of Namibia, and H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and AWLN patron, to discuss advancing women's leadership across Africa. The gathering underscored the network’s growth from a visionary concept into a continental powerhouse with national chapters in nearly 40 African countries.
Participants reflected on the challenges posed by rising geopolitical tensions and the shift toward military security over human security, which threaten progress on gender equality. AWLN Elders emphasized the need for women’s meaningful participation in governance and peace processes to ensure they are not sidelined in critical decisions shaping Africa’s future. The meeting also highlighted the persistent resource-driven conflicts that hinder the continent’s potential, alongside a global pushback against gender equality efforts.
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Originally published on AllAfrica on 2/24/2026