In many high-level peace negotiations across Africa, those most affected by conflict are absent from the room. Women, who often bear the heaviest social and economic costs of war, rarely sit at the negotiating table.

Bridging that gap has shaped the work of Senegalese mediator Mame Khady Diouf.

“Conflict affects women and girls differently because of social roles, gender inequalities and vulnerabilities that become more pronounced during crises,” Diouf said in a recent interview with Bantu Gazette.

“Women and girls often bear the brunt of conflict, yet their experiences and perspectives are not always adequately considered,” she said.

Diouf serves as head of mission in Senegal for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Geneva-based mediation organization.

Since 2016, she has led its engagement in the Casamance peace process between the Senegalese government and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance, helping guide structured dialogue in one of West Africa’s longest-running conflicts.

Her career in mediation and governance spans more than two decades.

Her work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Burundi has included supporting governance initiatives, organizing conflict-transformation workshops and strengthening negotiation skills among political and civil actors.

Across those contexts, she has observed a consistent pattern. “Those who carry the deepest social and economic consequences of violence are often underrepresented in formal negotiations,” Diouf said.

Women in many conflict settings face heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence, displacement and economic hardship.

Armed groups sometimes use such violence deliberately to destabilize communities and fracture social cohesion. But women’s voices often remain absent when ceasefires are negotiated and recovery frameworks designed.

“When women are fully included in negotiations, the agenda changes,” Diouf said.

Their participation often brings greater attention to protection, humanitarian access and the needs of families and displaced populations, she said.

Mediation spaces remain largely dominated by men, particularly when negotiations involve political or military actors.

Diouf says she encountered that dynamic early in her career.

“At the beginning of my role as a mediator, I was not always perceived as competent or capable of leading a mediation process,” she said. “In many conflict settings, leadership in mediation is still often associated with men, and women therefore have to prove their legitimacy repeatedly before their expertise is fully recognized.”

Trust developed gradually through preparation, patience and persistence. Listening closely and building relationships helped her gain the confidence of stakeholders.

“It has not always been an easy journey,” she said. “But I consider myself a resilient person and I do not give up easily.”

In some mediation processes, she has been the only woman in the room. That experience has reinforced her awareness of how much work remains before inclusion becomes standard practice in peace negotiations.

Achieving inclusive peace processes requires more than goodwill, she said. It requires sustained institutional commitment.

Global recognition of women’s role in peacebuilding has grown in recent decades, but representation at senior mediation levels remains limited.

In negotiations led or supported by institutions such as the United Nations, the African Union and regional organizations including ECOWAS, women still represent a small share of mediators. Diouf estimates the figure remains below 15 percent in many processes.

“This level of underrepresentation is difficult to justify,” she said. “It highlights the need for stronger commitment and concrete measures.”

Inclusion Beyond Symbolism

“Inclusive negotiation strengthens legitimacy, deepens trust and makes peace more sustainable,” she said.

Her work now focuses on building mediation processes that can withstand political changes and social pressures.

Advising dialogue processes, strengthening institutional coordination and promoting disciplined fairness in negotiations remain central to that effort.

Conflicts across parts of Africa continue to evolve, and mediation efforts increasingly must connect local realities with national politics.

Peace processes, Diouf said, must include those most affected by violence.

She believes the future of peace negotiations will depend on who is included at the table and whether institutions are willing to open the process to more voices.

“When women are meaningfully included in negotiations, the agenda, the dynamics and the outcomes tend to change, and peace agreements are more likely to last,” she said.

Diouf plans to remain engaged in continental discussions on mediation ethics and inclusive dialogue.

Peace negotiations, Diouf said, must reflect the lived realities of the communities they are meant to serve, especially women who are too often left outside the room.