Kigali, Rwanda – A high-level Liberian Legislative Delegation, currently on a study tour in Rwanda to examine electoral boundary delimitation, has held an extensive exchange session with members of the Rwandan Parliament and the Forum of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians (FFRP). The engagement brought together lawmakers from various standing committees of Rwanda’s legislature and provided a platform for in-depth discussions on governance reforms, gender equality, electoral management, and parliamentary oversight.
The meeting underscored Rwanda’s reputation as a global leader in women’s political representation, offering Liberia valuable lessons as it embarks on critical reforms in its own electoral and governance systems.
Sharing Rwanda’s Experience in Governance and Gender Mainstreaming
Rwandan lawmakers highlighted the country’s success in building inclusive governance through strong political will and consistent gender-responsive legislation. They pointed out that women currently hold more than 60 percent of seats in Rwanda’s Parliament, a record that has placed the nation at the top globally in women’s political participation.
Dr. Gihana Donatha, a member of Rwanda’s Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs, stressed the importance of ensuring that women are fully integrated into political parties and decision-making bodies. She cited her party, the Social Democrats, as an example, noting that four of the six members of its Central Committee are women, excluding only the President and Vice President.
Hon. Tumukunde Aimée Marie Ange, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Security, emphasized that women must be supported to compete effectively within political structures. She explained that investments in women’s education, particularly in science and technology, are essential to strengthening their leadership capacity and broadening opportunities for political empowerment.
Rwandan parliamentarians further explained that their achievements in gender representation were made possible through deliberate legislative action, strong accountability mechanisms, and national policies designed to safeguard women’s rights and enhance their participation at all levels of governance.
Liberia Looks to Adopt Best Practices
Speaking on behalf of the Liberian Delegation, Hon. Prof. Thomas Romeo Quioh, Chair of the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration, expressed appreciation for the detailed insights shared by the Rwandan legislators. He said Liberia stands to gain from Rwanda’s experiences as it prepares to address threshold setting and electoral boundary delimitation in line with constitutional requirements.
“This exchange is of immense value to Liberia. As we begin our own processes of threshold setting and boundary delimitation, the lessons from Rwanda will guide us toward inclusivity, fairness, and stronger democratic institutions,” Quioh noted.
Hon. Moima Briggs-Mensah, Chair of the House Committee on Gender, lauded the work of the FFRP in ensuring women’s meaningful participation in lawmaking. She explained that Liberia is actively working to put in place similar frameworks to ensure women’s voices are not only heard but also influence decision-making in the legislature.
A Shared Commitment to Democracy and Equality
Both sides agreed that inter-parliamentary cooperation is vital for advancing democracy, strengthening governance, and deepening gender equality across Africa. The exchange concluded with a commitment to pursue future collaborations, capacity-building programs, and shared initiatives between the legislatures of Liberia and Rwanda.
Liberian lawmakers also recognized Rwanda’s holistic approach to inclusivity, which extends beyond women’s representation to include youth participation, civil society engagement, and political party reforms.
Continuing Engagements
The Liberian Delegation’s visit will continue with a series of technical meetings aimed at broadening their understanding of Rwanda’s governance model. Upcoming engagements include: An exchange session with the Gender Monitoring Office to learn about mechanisms for enhancing women’s political participation. A meeting with the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations to discuss political party cooperation and inclusivity.
An exchange with the National Electoral Commission (NEC) focusing on electoral reforms, threshold setting, and boundary delimitation processes. A session with the National Women’s Council to examine how grassroots women’s organizations are integrated into political participation.
A dialogue with the National Youth Council to explore youth engagement in politics and decision-making. A working session with the Rwanda Governance Board to understand oversight and accountability structures in governance.
The Liberian Delegation believes that the lessons learned from Rwanda will be instrumental in shaping Liberia’s ongoing electoral reforms and its broader efforts to promote inclusive governance. With boundary delimitation and threshold-setting among the most pressing tasks ahead of the Liberian legislature, lawmakers say they are determined to adapt best practices that can strengthen democracy at home.
The study tour, observers note, reflects Liberia’s willingness to learn from African peers and underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing shared challenges across the continent.
