OAFLAD Elects New Leadership for 2025-2027 to Spearhead the Implementation of the New OAFLAD Strategic Framework 2025-2030

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February 15, 2025

The Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) has elected a new leadership for the organization at its 29^th General Assembly held under the theme "Building on Beijing: First Ladies Championing Women's Leadership and Rights Through African Heritage." This theme coincides with the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and aligns with the African Union's 2025 theme of "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations." It further emphasizes OAFLAD’s commitment to advancing women's leadership and promoting gender equality. OAFLAD’s newly elected leadership will serve from 2025-2027.

The newly elected Steering Committee, comprising two representatives from each region, will guide OAFLAD’s mission to champion the implementation of the new OAFLAD Strategic Framework 2025-2030, which was also endorsed during the 29^th General Assembly. Following OAFLAD’s regional rotation system, this year’s presidency position goes to West Africa, and the elected leaders are as follows:

• President: H.E. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone

• Vice President: H.E. Dr. Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, First Lady of Angola

• Steering Committee members:

H.E Dr. Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, First lady of Angola
H.E Mrs. Monica Chakwera, First lady of Malawi
H.E Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, First lady of Sierra Leone
H.E Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, CON: First lady of Nigeria
H.E Mrs. Constancia Mangue de Obiang, First lady of Equatorial Guinea
H.E Mrs. Antoinette Sassou N’guesso, First lady of Republic of Congo
H.E Mrs.Rachel Ruto, First lady of Kenya
H.E Mrs. Zinash Tayachew, First lady of Ethiopia

Under this new leadership and with the new Strategic Framework 2025-2030, OAFLAD, will prioritize four strategic pillars: health, education, gender-based violence (GBV), and women’s economic empowerment (WEE) which reflect OAFLAD’s commitment to addressing the most pressing issues facing children, youth and women. In addition to these core focus areas, climate change, and peace and security are integrated as cross-cutting themes, recognizing both their implication on strategic actions and their profound impact on women’s well-being and development in the continent.

The development of the OAFLAD Strategic Framework 2025-2030 has been an inclusive and participatory process that has incorporated valuable insights from the First Ladies’ Technical Advisors (TAs), the Secretariat, key partners and stakeholders that will guide the journey toward our Vision 2030.

Speaking on behalf of the newly elected team, the new president expressed deep gratitude for the confidence placed in the newly elected bureau members and reaffirmed OAFLAD’s dedication to working with all partners and key stakeholders to bring impactful change across the continent.

OAFLAD extended its appreciation to the outgoing leadership H.E Mrs Sustjie Mbumba, First Lady of the Republic of Namibia and outgoing President of OAFLAD; H.E Mrs. Denise Nyakéru Tshisekedi, First Lady of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and outgoing Vice-President of OAFLAD and to all the outgoing members of the Steering Committee, for their exemplary service and contributions in advancing the organization’s mission. “Their dedication has been instrumental in driving key initiatives that have improved the lives of millions across the continent”.

For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Sharufa Amisi | Communication Lead | OAFLAD | Tel: +243 99 66 22222 | Email: sharufa@oaflad.org

Mrs. Rahel Akalewold | Information and Communication Directorate | Email: rahela@africa-union.org