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In 2024, 18 African countries will host presidential elections. For some of these countries, a new president will be voted into office, while others will see the continuation of a previous regime.
The First Family, composed of the spouse and children of the president, is often overlooked in discussions surrounding these elections. In many scenarios, the First Lady functions as an office focused on social development. However, abuse of the office is also common due to a lack of accountability. As the continent goes through a period of change and economic instability, continual funding for first-family activities is a concern worth raising.
The Office of the First Lady
While in a global economic turmoil, some potential and current sub-Saharan African presidents preach economic restraint. As a necessary consequence, many new or returning presidents will have the opportunity to review the office of the First Lady and decide whether to continue funding the office or eliminate it. This opportunity will especially be important for politicians in countries like Ghana, where the government has hinted at lowering government spending.
With few exceptions, the majority of presidents in sub-Saharan Africa have been heterosexual men, so the first lady’s position has been the most popular non-elected role within the first family. As a typical rule, the role of the first family in sub-Saharan African countries is not established by the constitution and is not an official office. Nonetheless, official funding is given to the “office” of the first lady under the president’s office in countries like Seychelles and Mozambique.
As a result, questions arise about whether this unofficial office should continue to be funded by public funds, especially in the face of accusations of unchecked spending.
Furthermore, a 2017 study by researchers in Southern Africa looked at how influential First Ladies are in that part of the continent. The researchers concluded that first ladies in sub-Saharan Africa often possess a sizable amount of influence, partly based on their previous political experience (where applicable) and proximity to the president. Despite this, the study found that these first ladies often play a peripheral role in their patriarchal societies. This is partly because of the expectations and limitations that often accompany the position. These include a lack of legal status for their “office” and the maternal role expected of them.
The Positive Impacts of the First Lady
The office of the First Lady in sub-Saharan Africa is significant in promoting social causes like feminism, advocating for women’s rights, and supporting various development programs and projects across the region. For example, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), initially founded in 2002 by 37 African First Ladies, is an advocacy organization created to help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Initially named the Organization of African Ladies against HIV/AIDS, the organization recently broadened its advocacy to include issues concerning maternal and child health. In recognition of their work, the organization and its leaders received awards from Georgetown University and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS in 2007 and 2017, respectively.
Examples of individual projects by first ladies include the campaigning of Esther Lungu and Kaseba-Sata — both of Zambia — against child marriage and gender-based violence during their time in the office. In addition to their civilian roles as doctors, lawyers and political activists, the First Lady is also often responsible for meeting and hosting foreign VIPs. Finally, they can also play an integral part in their husbands’ campaign outreach to the female demographic in their respective countries.
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
Sometimes first ladies are seen, like in Kenya, as the “Mother of the Nation,” playing a maternal role in contrast to the disciplinarian role that African presidents often play.
The following are only some of the more popular first ladies on the continent: Grace Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Stella Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Queen Dzeliwe — named “joint Head of State” of Eswatini by her husband in 1981. The characterization of these first ladies as reserved and tame can often hide the political power and influence that they possess.
For example, in 2005, a Nigerian newspaper publisher was arrested by the Nigerian Police Force and accused of sedition after releasing a story “link[ing] … [former] first lady Stella Obasanjo to a real estate scam.” The publication alleged that various government properties were sold at low prices to members of Mrs. Obasanjo’s family, showing how the First Ladies’ undue influence on the continent can be used for corruption, too.
In mid-2019, the Federal High Court of Nigeria allowed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize just under $10 million belonging to former First Lady Patience Jonathan. The court argued that Mrs. Jonathan could not show that the money received was through legal means.
Corruption in the First Family
Since 2019, the former first lady of Angola, Ana Paula dos Santos, has been under investigation by Angola’s current administration on charges of corruption and financial irregularities involving state companies and entities abroad. Another family member, Isabel dos Santos, also has been accused of embezzling company funds. Informally known as “Africa’s richest woman,” she was appointed head of Sonangol, Angola’s state oil company, by her father in 2016.
The appointment of family members by the president to head important companies like this shows the level of undeserved privilege that often comes with the unofficial, unelected offices of the first family. It also shows how the corruption found in the first families can stem from the presidents themselves.
These issues are widespread and can be found all over the sub-Saharan region. In early 2022, the former first lady of Seychelles, Sarah Zarqgabi Rene, was one of many individuals involved in an embezzlement case before a court. The case is reportedly still before the Seychelles Supreme Court, despite the former first lady being bailed out already. She is accused of illegally redirecting money donated by the United Arab Emirates to an Australian bank account for personal use.
The roles and duties of the First Lady and First Family are often poorly defined. This is partly because of the lack of a constitutional framework basis for the position. This phenomenon is also present in the case of the first family, whose positions are even less valid despite the wishes of various members of first families across the continent.
For example, in 2022, Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, introduced members of “the office of the first daughter” to the audience of a summit she spoke at. In Nigeria, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo updated her Twitter bio with the sentence “First daughter of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN)” after her father’s election victory in 2023. While these two statements could be dismissed as mere tongue-in-cheek declarations, they showcase a pattern of concerning behaviour by members of the first family across the continent. The lack of legal standing can often make pursuing accountability for these pseudo-offices challenging, especially concerning finances and the (mis)use of power.
Where Do We Go From Here?
African governments looking to utilize the full potential of the office of the First Lady and other similar positions for good have a variety of options that they can explore.
Firstly, they could formalize the roles to hold them more responsible. Just like the president can be accountable to the legislative arm of government in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, establishing a formal role and position for the office(s) of the first family may allow for proper checks and balances as they carry out their assigned duties.
Alternatively, the removal of the offices is another possible option. President Buhari of Nigeria made this attempt in 2015. In its place, the “Office of the Wife of the President” was created as part of efforts by the new administration to reduce the spending of public funds. Since then, the position has been “public and voluntary,” cutting down on the risk of corruption and embezzlement by eliminating their access to excess funds. Examples of smaller-scale reforms include cutting Kenya’s budget for the first and second ladies in 2020 due to COVID-19 economic impacts.
The different economic and social programs managed by various first ladies have greatly benefited their fellow citizens — but what about the countries whose first ladies have only hurt the country? It is now up to the respective governments to examine and decide if the good from the First Lady’s office outweighs the bad and choose the best direction for the future.
Edited by Melanie Miles
