The global order is shifting, and Africa is no longer a distant spectator. From the G20 Summit held for the first time on African soil to the rise of new alliances across the Global South, diplomacy, governance, and international cooperation are undergoing seismic transformation.
One truth is becoming increasingly clear: Women are no longer optional in geopolitics. They are central to Africa’s global future.
The world is moving from a unipolar to a multipolar configuration. The expanding influence of blocs such as BRICS+, persistent tensions among global powers, and shifting trade and security dynamics are rewriting the rules of international relations. These shifts have direct implications for Africa’s sovereignty, stability, and development trajectories.
In this rapidly evolving landscape, Africa must redefine how it positions itself, and who speaks on its behalf.
The involvement of women in geopolitics is no longer a matter of representation.
It is a matter of strategy.
Women leaders bring collaborative, inclusive, and resilience-driven approaches essential for peacebuilding, governance reform, climate diplomacy, and economic transformation. Their perspectives are indispensable to Africa’s long-term geopolitical positioning.
Following the success of the G20 Conversation Series, the December edition launches the Women in Geopolitics Debate, a flagship initiative of Leading Women of Africa (LWA).
The Women in Geopolitics Debate is a high-level, Pan-African think-tank platform that convenes both women and men committed to reshaping Africa’s global role. The programme applies a gender-responsive, Pan-African lens to geopolitical analysis and policy influence.
Its purpose is to bring together Africa’s strategic thinkers to craft actionable strategies and strengthen the continent’s influence in global governance, diplomacy, peace and security, economic policy, trade, technology, and the management of natural resources.
Across the continent, women are already shaping global debates:
diplomats and ambassadors
business leaders and CEOs
peace negotiators and mediators
governance reformers
academics, activists, and thought leaders
technologists and innovators
entrepreneurs expanding Africa’s footprint
Yet, their contributions remain under-recognised, not because of lack of capacity, but because of lack of visibility.
The Women in Geopolitics series aims to amplify these voices, showcase their leadership, and challenge the long-standing assumption that geopolitics is the domain of men alone.
Africa’s governance landscape is under strain. Democratic backsliding, constitutional manipulations, weakened institutions, and contested elections have placed new pressure on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), once considered Africa’s most innovative governance tool.
As the AU assumes a permanent seat in the G20 and strengthens its role in global forums, questions of internal reform, institutional credibility, and continental unity become more pressing.
SEASON 1 explores these dilemmas in depth, beginning with a critical examination of the APRM.
EPISODE 1 - Friday, 5 December 2025: The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM): Can It Still Drive Democratic Governance in Africa?
This conversation will tackle:
Whether the APRM remains fit for purpose
How governance failures weaken Africa’s geopolitical voice
What reforms the AU must undertake
How women leaders can drive accountability and renewal

Are you a male or female diplomat, former diplomat, policymaker, politician, parliamentarian or governance expert?
The Women in Geopolitics Debate is a catalyst for policy influence, institutional reform, and leadership development.
By placing African women at the centre of global geopolitical debates, LWA is not only reclaiming voice and power, it is shaping a future where Africa stands stronger, more resilient, and more united in the face of global shifts.
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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is set to become the pulsating heart of Africa’s industrial future as it hosts the highly anticipated Africon Micro, Small, and Medium Industries (MSIs) Summit 2026.
A standout feature will be the prestigious Future is Female and Men Champions Awards, celebrating the trailblazers and visionaries who are reshaping the MSI landscape across the continent.
The LWA Global Expertise & Opportunity Exchange is a strategic platform developed by Leading Women of Africa (LWA) to connect international institutions, investors, and collaborators with Africa’s most dynamic women experts and entrepreneurs.
From infrastructure development to agriculture, digital innovation to mining, transport to manufacturing, African women are leading transformative change across sectors. This initiative offers global partners a direct pathway to engage with credible, visionary women who are ready to co-create, invest, and lead.
LWA is your first point of contact for doing business in Africa, through the lens of women-led excellence.