African women diplomats launch AWDK in Kuwait to advocate for gender equality

Female diplomats from African missions in Kuwait officially launched the African Women Diplomats in Kuwait (AWDK) forum at a Gala Dinner on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in the Al-Baraka Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Farwaniya. The new platform, unveiled during the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, aims to strengthen African-Kuwaiti partnerships and cultural exchange while advancing gender equality, professional development, and African solidarity.
The event drew a diverse group of guests, including diplomats, government officials, civil society activists, and members of the media, who gathered to honour African women’s contributions in Kuwait and to launch a network to amplify their voices in diplomatic and public affairs. The AWDK was presented as a dynamic forum for fostering collaboration, cultural diplomacy, and partnerships with the State of Kuwait, as well as supporting the implementation of continental and global development agendas.
Her Excellency Haja Ishata Thomas, Chairperson of AWDK and Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Kuwait, welcomed guests and outlined the forum’s objectives, which include providing a platform for advocacy, promoting cultural exchange, and supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the global agenda for gender equality. Ambassador Thomas praised Kuwait for creating an enabling environment for women’s empowerment and expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as well as the Government and people of Kuwait, for fostering a society that supports initiatives for women’s empowerment.
vancement. ancement.Thomas emphasised the importance of elevating Africa’s stories and celebrating the many women who have shaped the continent’s history and demonstrated its diversity abroad. She also advocated for the immediate implementation of the Maputo Protocol (2023), which is the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women, describing it as a powerful tool for combating discrimination and protecting women’s rights across the continent.
Her Excellency Tahani Rashid Nasser, Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs at Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the keynote address and reaffirmed the country’s long-standing ties with Africa, citing six decades of history. She welcomed the forum as an important addition to African engagement in Kuwait, emphasising its alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. “This initiative aligns with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations sustainable development agenda, with a specific highlight to Aspiration six (6), which envisions ‘an Africa whose development is people-centred, harnessing the potential of its people, especially women and young people, and caring for the well-being of children,'” she said, praising the forum’s potential to broaden opportunities for African women diplomats and strengthen cooperation on gender.
Dr Said Hassane El-Anrif, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Union of the Comoros to Kuwait, described the AWDK’s launch as a demonstration of the diplomatic community’s commitment to strengthening cultural understanding and professional cooperation between Africa and Kuwait. He stated that the forum reflects the professionalism and positive spirit of African women who represent their countries admirably and improve the continent’s image abroad.
The evening ended on a celebratory note, with performances of African traditional songs, goodwill messages from female diplomats based in Kuwait, and a raffle awarding guests with attractive African cultural artefacts — a symbolic reminder of the forum’s emphasis on cultural exchange as a bridge between peoples and nations.