For H.E. Fatoumata Jallow, women’s leadership is not simply about occupying positions of influence. It is about using that influence to create opportunities, strengthen institutions and prepare the path for the next generation.
Drawing from her experience in political leadership, peace mediation and community development in The Gambia and across the region, H.E. Jallow describes a leadership approach rooted in service, compassion, mentorship and practical action.
She speaks of developing innovative approaches that are adapted to African realities—including information sharing, mentoring and community initiatives that respond directly to people’s needs.
Her experience in peace mediation demonstrates how personal credibility and relationships can become powerful tools for political leadership.
During the 2023 political crisis in Sierra Leone, when tensions surrounding the elections led to a political boycott, she was able to bring opposing sides together to sign a unity agreement. For her, this was an example of how trust built over time can create space for dialogue even in difficult political circumstances.
But peacebuilding, in her view, must be accompanied by institutional change.
H.E. Jallow calls for stronger institutions and greater internal democracy within political systems and parties. She argues that constitutional equality must translate into electoral and political reforms that create genuine opportunities for women and young people to participate in leadership.
She also makes an important appeal to senior women leaders:
Do not climb the ladder and pull it up behind you.
Leadership carries a responsibility to prepare the next generation.
Young women should be able to look at women already in positions of influence and see leaders who are intentionally creating pathways for them—not leaders focused only on their own advancement.
Economic empowerment is another important part of this leadership philosophy.
H.E. Jallow highlights initiatives supporting women in village gardening and other economic activities as examples of how leadership can translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives. When women become economically stronger, she argues, the benefits extend into families and communities—including the next generation of daughters.
But perhaps her most strategic message is the need for greater unity among African women’s organisations.
Rather than operating as isolated organisations and initiatives, she proposes mapping the many women’s organisations across Africa and building stronger connections between them.
“We need to strengthen, have one voice, one platform or an integrated platform that will reinforce our movement.”
For H.E. Jallow, Africa’s women’s movement will become more influential when its many voices are better connected and able to advocate collectively for change.
And she places responsibility firmly at national level.
If the African Union remains predominantly male-led, she argues, women cannot simply wait for continental institutions to change on their own. Transformation must begin by strengthening women’s political participation and institutions at national level—and gradually changing the composition and priorities of continental leadership.
Her message is ultimately about leadership as service and legacy.
A woman who reaches a position of influence has an opportunity not only to represent herself, but to make the path easier for those who come after her.
The Women in Geopolitics Debate Series is a high-level thought-leadership platform dedicated to amplifying African voices, particularly women’s voices, in conversations on geopolitics, global affairs, governance, leadership and development.
Through dialogue with women leaders, diplomats, policymakers, business leaders, academics and experts from across Africa and beyond, the programme is building a growing archive of African women’s perspectives on the issues shaping our continent and our world.
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Madelein Mkunu is the President of Leading Women of Africa (LWA), a Pan-African social enterprise promoting women's leadership in economic development, and the founder of Beyond Boundaries, a global content and advocacy platform amplifying African women’s voices in policy, peacebuilding, and development. A bilingual English–French strategist and accomplished public speaker, she brings over 20 years of experience in gender mainstreaming, inclusive governance, and stakeholder engagement across Africa and globally. She holds an MBA and a Master’s in Management from IEDC-Bled School of Management (Slovenia), a Postgraduate Degree in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), a Certificate in Leadership from the Dale Carnegie Institute, and is an alumna of Michigan State University’s Women Empowerment Programme. With a background in accounting and a passion for transformative change, Madelein is a trusted advisor to institutions seeking Africa-rooted development solutions.
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