Former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde has said that any assault on women’s rights is, ultimately, an attack on democracy itself. Speaking at the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Zewde highlighted how some global leaders use traditional values to justify restricting women’s freedoms.
“Leaders cloak their power grabs in the language of tradition,” Zewde said. “They tell women that our primary role is in the home, not in positions of power. They pass laws that limit our autonomy over health and future choices. In some countries, girls are barred from education and systematically excluded from professional life from childhood.”
The summit, one of Africa’s most prestigious gatherings celebrating women shaping the continent’s future, brought together leaders, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers for a day of bold conversations.
–ChannelAfrica–
