Two Caribbean women have been accepted into the African Academy for Women in Political Leadership, an initiative earmarked for African women, marking a notable development in Africa-Caribbean relations.
According to an OECS Commission press release, Hon. Lanien Blanchette, Speaker of the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Hon. Lisa Jawahir, a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Saint Lucia, were nominated and officially accepted into the Academy. They also took part in its official launch in Kigali, Rwanda, held from August 2–7, 2026.
The African Union consists of 55 member states located across the African continent, making the acceptance of the two Eastern Caribbean citizens particularly significant.
The release said that their inclusion represents a formal connection between Caribbean political leadership and an initiative established within the African governance space.
It also reflects the African Union’s recognition of the African Diaspora as its Sixth Region.
The Academy is led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the African Union Commission, African Women Leaders Network and African School of Governance. Its focus includes campaign strategy, coalition building, legislative reform, ethical governance and public policy.
The OECS said the development was made possible through the efforts of Aisha Maina, its Strategic Advisor for Africa-Caribbean Cooperation, who nominated Blanchette and Jawahir and helped expand the Academy’s reach.
“Serving as a primary architect of modern Africa-Caribbean institutional convergence, Ms. Maina recognised that true transatlantic alignment extends beyond commercial trade. It requires deep governance collaboration, shared political empowerment, and intergenerational leadership exchange,” outlined the statement.
OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules described their inclusion as a milestone for the region and an opportunity to deepen transatlantic cooperation.
Blanchette is a lawyer known for her work in youth inclusion, constitutional integrity and democratic governance, while Jawahir has experience in executive leadership, strategic communications and public administration.
