2025 Elections Monitoring
Women's Political Participation and Election Monitoring in Africa 2015
2025 saw African voters head to the polls in several countries across the continent. Women's representation in parliaments showed a modest improvement overall, with the average share of women elected rising slightly to 28% from 27% in the previous elections. However, results were mixed: while Tanzania's incumbent female president was re-elected and a small number of countries saw increases in women elected to parliament, the percentage of women elected declined in the majority of countries that held parliamentary elections.
Brice Oligui Nguema emerged victorious in Gabon’s first presidential election following the 2023 military coup. He received 94.85% of the votes. Interest in the poll was high, with the country recording its highest voter turnout in decades.
The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) emerged victorious following the 2025 presidential and parliamentary elections in Côte d’Ivoire. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term, and the RHDP secured a majority of seats in the National Assembly. Women’s representation in the National Assembly remains well below the established 30% quota target.
In the 2025 presidential elections, incumbent President Paul Biya emerged victorious, obtaining 53.66% of the votes and an eighth term in office. The opposition contested the outcome, alleging the results were rigged. The election period was contentious, and clashes broke out between security forces and opposition supporters. Among the 12 presidential candidates, there was one woman.
Egypt held parliamentary elections in late 2025, with the Nation's Future Party emerging as the dominant force in the House of Representatives and the National List of Egypt Coalition in the Senate. Women's representation declined slightly in both chambers, with female MPs making up 25.7% of the lower house and 10.7% of the Senate.
In the 2025 general elections in the Republic of Seychelles, Mr Patrick Matthew Antonio Hermine of United Seychelles won the presidency and his party the majority of seats in the National Assembly. Women’s representation in the National Assembly saw a modest increase.
The National Council for the Defence of Democracy – Front for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) won the parliamentary elections held on 5 June 2025 in Burundi. Women’s representation in the National Assembly increased. While there was a strong interest in the polls, as evidenced by the high voter turnout, there were also reports of intimidation and violence. The opposition parties denounced the results.
The Central African Republic held four elections on 28 December 2025. In the presidential polls, incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra won a third term in office. Two of the main contenders for the presidency challenged the results. Women’s political participation in elections and representation in elected offices remains low.
The Togolese general elections scheduled for 2025 have been postponed; a future date has yet to be announced. Following the conclusion of the National Conference on the Rebuilding of Niger in February 2025, it was recommended that the transitional period be extended for five years. The transitional period was expected to conclude in 2025.
On 3 May 2025, Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové was elected president of the Togolese Republic. It marked the first indirect presidential elections since the amendment of the Constitution.
The general elections held in Malawi on 16 September 2025 resulted in a decisive victory for former President Arthur Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Concerning women’s representation, the polls brought both progress, with the election of Dr Jane Ansah as Vice President, and a decrease in the number of women elected to the National Assembly.