The Réseau des femmes leaders pour le développement (RFLD) has once again underlined the urgent need to boost women’s presence in Senegal’s political arena. Speaking at a high-level seminar in Dakar, Bator Seck, the network’s president, argued that true national development cannot proceed without full female participation in governance structures.
« A democracy remains incomplete as long as women are excluded from key decision-making positions, » Mrs. Seck declared. « Senegal’s political future must be built with women, not just for them. » The event, held in May 2026, focused on strengthening women’s role in shaping policies and leadership across Senegal’s political institutions.
The RFLD, a pan-African feminist network active in multiple West African nations, advocates for legislative reforms, grassroots empowerment, and funding for women-led initiatives. Its work spans women’s rights advocacy, sexual and reproductive health, civic space protection, and climate justice.
Declining female political presence
Despite Senegal’s reputation as a regional leader in gender equality—thanks to its 2010 parity law, 2001 Constitution guaranteeing gender equality, and ratification of international human rights treaties—Mrs. Seck warned that progress has stalled. She highlighted the sharp drop in women’s representation in the National Assembly following the November 2024 snap elections, where female MPs fell from 44.2% to 41%. Even more striking, only 13% of electoral list leaders were women.
She also pointed out the scarcity of women in local leadership roles: just 18 out of 558 municipalities are led by women, and only three women chair Senegal’s 43 departmental councils. These figures, she noted, reflect deep-rooted structural barriers, cultural resistance, and persistent inequalities in access to political funding, media visibility, and decision-making power.
Women’s pivotal role in Senegal’s progress
Despite these challenges, Mrs. Seck emphasized the indispensable contributions of Senegalese women to national development. « Women are at the heart of local economies, education, social justice movements, and peacebuilding efforts, » she stated. Their exclusion from leadership, she argued, weakens the nation’s ability to achieve sustainable growth and inclusive governance.
Senior officials echoed this sentiment. Mama Diouf Fall, representing the Ministry of Family, Social Action, and Solidarity, stressed that women’s political engagement is a cornerstone of sustainable development, social stability, and transparent governance. Meanwhile, Fatoumata Guèye Ndiaye, honorary president of the Senegalese Women Jurists Association, called for urgent reforms to expand women’s access to executive roles and party leadership—not only in parliament but also in strategic political positions.
The RFLD’s call for action comes at a critical moment, as Senegal faces mounting pressure to translate legal gender equality into real political influence for women.