Jan 03, 1975 - April 07, 1976
Élisabeth Domitién, Central African Republic

As Premier Minister she was also Deputy Head of State and acted as President on occasions when President Bokassa was abroad. Also vice-President of the ruling Social Evolution Movement of Black Africa (MESAN) 1975-79. She criticized the plans of her cousin, Jean Bedel Bokassa, who had been chief of state since 1966, who wanted to become emperor, and in effect he sacked her. After his fall from power in 1979 she was imprisoned and tried in February 1980. She later became an influential businesswoman in Bangui, Married to the chief of the Mobaye Canton-Mayorship. She lived (1925-2005).

July 21, 1980 - June 14, 1995
Dame M. Eugenia Charles, Dominica

Leader of Dominican Liberty Party 1964-94 and 1974-80 Leader of the Opposition. During her tenure as Premier she was also Minister of External Affairs, Finance, Trade and Industry, Defence, Minister of Information and Public Relations. In 1992 she was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, the former Head of State of Domenica. Unmarried and lived (1916-2005).

May 14, 1984 - May 16, 1984
Dame Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, Haïti

Served as interim president of Haiti from 13 Mar 1990 to 7 Feb 1991. America's third female president and second black female ruler in the continent after Dominica's premier Eugenia Charles. (b. 1943)

July 18, 1993 - May 07, 1994 (†)
Agathe Uwilingiyimana, Rwanda

Minister of Education from 1992 till her appointment as Premier. On May 06, 1994 the Hutu President Habyarimana was killed together with his Burundian colleague, Cyprien Ntaryamira, when their plane was rocketed on its way to Kigali airport. Agathe, a Hutu, was killed by the Tutsi Presidential guard together with her family and 10 Belgian soldiers, the day before she was supposed to step down as Premier Minister. The two killings sparked off the civil war and genocide of approximately 1 million Hutus and Tutsies. Mother of about 6 children. She lived (1953-94).

Nov 07, 1995 - Feb 27, 1996
Claudette Werleigh, Haïti

An economist, she became Minister of Social Affairs 1990-91, 1993-95 and was Executive Director of the Washington Office of Haiti 1993. Later an UN official. (b. 1946- ).

Sept 3, 1996 - Aug 2, 1997
Ruth Perry, Liberia

Chairman of the Council of State (a six-member collective presidency) of the National Transitional Government of Liberia from Sept 3, 1996 to Aug 2, 1997. Apart from, queens (and Burundian premier Sylvie Kinigi, who acted as president briefly in early 90s), Perry has been Africa's first female head of State. (b. 1939)

Mar 03, 2001- Nov 04, 2002
Mame Madior Boye, Sénégal

Former assistant to the Attorney General of the Republic, judge and first vice President of the Regional High Court in Dakar and former President of the Court of Appeal in Dakar. Councillor to the Supreme Court of Appeal and Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals in 2000-2001. In 2002 she took over as Minister of Defence after the former incumbent resigned after almost 1.000 persons died in a ferry-disaster. (b.1940-).

Oct 03, 2002 - July 16, 2003
Maria das Neves Ceita Batista de Sousa, Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe
July 23, 2003 - Sept 18, 2004

Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance and in the African Development Bank. 1999-2001 Minister of Economics, Agriculture, Fisheries, Commerce and Tourism, 2001-02 Minister of Finance and 2002 Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. On 16th of July 2003 she was detained during a military coup d'etat but on the 23rd the government was reinstated. The following year she was dismissed after aaccusations of corruption. (b. 1958-).

Feb 17, 2004-
Luísa Días Diogo, Mozambique

Head of Department in the Ministry of Finance 1986-89, National Budget Director 1982-89 in Ministry of Planning and Finance, worked in the World Bank in 1993-94. 1994-2000 Vice-Minister and Minister of Planning and Finance 2000-05. Mother of three children. (b. 1958-).

June 07, 2005 - May 21, 2006
Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira, São Tomé e Princípe

Normally known as Maria do Carmo Silveira, she was governor of the National Bank 2002-05 and member of the Political Bureau of the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tomé-Social Democratic Party, MLSTP-PSD. Also Minister of Finance from 2005. (b. 1961-).

May 03, 2005 - June 22, 2005 (Acting)
Cynthia A. Pratt, The Bahamas

Appointed Acting Prime Minister when the incumbent suffered a minor stroke and stepped aside from his duties, but she has acted on a number of occasions before, when he was abroad. She is also known as "Mother" Pratt. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Security 2002-07 she was  in charge of the Defence Force and Police. She was Opposition Whip Ca. 1992-2000 and from ca. 2000 Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Progressive Liberal Democratic Part. A former nurse, she is mother of 6 children (b. 1945-).

November 23, 2005-
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia

Became President of Liberia and Africa's first elected female head of state on November 23, 2005, following the 2005 election. She was Assistant Minister of Finance in the administration of President William Tolbert. After Tolbert's overthrow in 1980, she went into exile in Nairobi, Kenya, where she worked for Citibank. She returned to run for Senate in 1985 and was sentenced to ten years in prison for speaking out against Doe's military regime. Released shortly afterwards, she moved to Washington, D.C., but returned in 1997 to work for the World Bank and Citibank. She ran against Charles Taylor in the 1997 presidential elections and lost. Taylor charged her with treason when she campaigned for his removal from office. She played an active role in the 2005 transitional government. (b. 1938-).

Mar 30, 2006-
Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica

Since 1976 MP, 1976-82 Parliamentary Secretary of the Prime Minister, Deputy President of People's National Party 1978-2006 and President from 2006. Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Sports 1989-2000, Candidate for the party leadership and Premiership in 1992, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment, Sports and Women's Affairs 2000-02 and Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport 2002-06. Acting Prime Minister on various occasions whenever the chief of government was out of the country. From 2006 also Minister of Defence and Sports. (b. 1946-).