The African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) is a continental initiative created to promote peace, humanitarian assistance and conflict mitigation across Africa. Its origins can be traced to the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, where African First Ladies recognised the need for coordinated action on social and political issues affecting women, children, and communities affected by conflict.
Following preparatory consultations, the AFLPM was formally declared in Harare, Zimbabwe, during the Organisation of African Unity Summit in 1996, establishing a permanent network of African First Ladies committed to peace and development. This initiative was designed to complement official governmental efforts at conflict resolution and to provide a platform for women leaders to address humanitarian concerns and advocate for vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
The AFLPM represents one of the earliest continental efforts where women leaders coordinated across national boundaries, reflecting both the evolving roles of African First Ladies and the need for inclusive approaches to peacebuilding in post-colonial Africa.
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Key Figures and Leadership
Maryam Sani Abacha, Founding President
The AFLPM was founded under the leadership of Maryam Sani Abacha, First Lady of Nigeria during the administration of General Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. As the founding President, her role was crucial in shaping the organisation’s objectives, including promoting peace, providing humanitarian support, and mobilising continental resources to mitigate the effects of violent conflict on vulnerable populations.
Fati Lami Abubakar, Second President
Following Maryam Abacha, Honourable Justice Fati Lami Abubakar of Nigeria became President of the AFLPM in 1998, during her tenure as First Lady of Nigeria from June 1998 to May 1999. She is a distinguished jurist and legal practitioner, and she founded the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) in 1999, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to legal advocacy, education, and protection of women’s rights across Nigeria.
Under Abubakar’s leadership, the AFLPM continued to develop its network of African First Ladies, strengthening its focus on peace, conflict resolution, and humanitarian support, while promoting legal reforms and women’s empowerment initiatives in Nigeria and across the continent.
Subsequent Leadership
After Abubakar, the AFLPM presidency passed through successive First Ladies from countries such as Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, the Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria under later First Ladies, including Turai Yar’Adua, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Aisha Muhammadu Buhari. The current president, as of 2024, is Angeline Ndayishimiye of Burundi.
Historical Context and Mission Objectives
The AFLPM was established during a period when many African nations were experiencing political transitions, civil unrest, and humanitarian crises. The 1990s witnessed several conflicts, democratic reforms, and post-colonial reconstruction efforts. In this context, the AFLPM provided a platform for First Ladies to influence peacebuilding initiatives, advocate for women and children, and complement formal government-led peace processes.
The AFLPM focuses on mobilising resources for peace, raising awareness of women’s roles in conflict resolution, providing humanitarian assistance, and promoting a culture of peace and development across Africa. While First Ladies hold no formal constitutional authority, the organisation leverages their moral influence and public presence to engage communities, national governments, and regional institutions in advocacy and development initiatives.
Role of Nigeria and Fati Lami Abubakar
Nigeria’s engagement with AFLPM has been central from its inception. The country hosted the first formal AFLPM summit following its declaration in 1996 and has consistently contributed leadership through successive First Ladies. Fati Lami Abubakar’s presidency in 1998 exemplified Nigeria’s commitment to continental peace advocacy, highlighting women’s legal rights and social empowerment alongside the broader mission of the AFLPM.
Through WRAPA, Abubakar extended her influence beyond ceremonial duties, providing legal aid, advocating for women’s rights, and promoting policies aimed at reducing gender inequality. WRAPA’s work continues today, ensuring that the principles of empowerment and justice remain embedded in Nigeria’s legal and social systems.
Impact and Societal Influence
The AFLPM has strengthened the profile of women leaders in Africa, advocating for greater inclusion in peace and conflict resolution processes. Its initiatives have complemented formal institutions such as the African Union, by providing an informal but influential network to support humanitarian relief, policy dialogue, and advocacy for vulnerable groups.
In Nigeria, initiatives led by First Ladies, particularly WRAPA, have provided legal aid, promoted social justice, and advanced gender equality. Programs such as the Child Care Trust, founded by Stella Obasanjo, further reflect the societal impact of First Ladies in addressing the welfare of children and marginalised groups, demonstrating that leadership extends beyond politics into civil society advocacy.
Colonial Legacy and Women’s Advocacy
The AFLPM’s significance is amplified by the post-colonial context of African nations, where colonial legacies often left weakened governance structures and recurrent conflict. First Ladies, though unelected and non-legislative, have utilised their platforms to address social gaps, advocate for human rights, and influence peacebuilding strategies. The AFLPM provides an enduring framework for these efforts at a continental level, linking advocacy to institutional objectives.
The African First Ladies Peace Mission is a unique, women-led continental advocacy platform that has strengthened the roles of First Ladies in peace, humanitarian assistance, and social development. Nigeria’s early involvement, through Maryam Abacha and later Fati Lami Abubakar, set the stage for sustained leadership in promoting peace and women’s rights across Africa. While specific events from 1999 are unverified, the institutional history and contributions of Nigerian First Ladies to AFLPM are well-documented, providing a credible foundation for understanding the mission’s impact on peace and social welfare.
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Author’s Note
This article focuses on the African First Ladies Peace Mission and Fati Lami Abubakar’s contribution as President of AFLPM. The story emphasies Nigeria’s foundational role and the ongoing work of the AFLPM in peacebuilding, women’s rights, and humanitarian advocacy.
References
African First Ladies Peace Mission: Our History, AFLPM official website.
WRAPA Nigeria: About WRAPA, WRAPA official site.
