Senegal now has the highest proportion of female MPs in West Africa.
Following July’s elections, 73 out of 165 parliamentary seats are held by women. By comparison, women hold just 4% of parliamentary seats in Nigeria and 26% in Niger.
Senegal ranks fourth in Africa and 18th in the world for gender parity in parliament, ahead of Switzerland, France, Britain and the US, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.
A 2010 law requiring “absolute gender parity” in all elective institutions is the driving force behind the country’s high share of women in office.
According to a UN report, outside Senegal, only 15 of 111 elected or appointed parliamentary or ministerial positions were filled by women in West Africa and the Sahel between December and June.
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