Year of the Woman: African Women’s Decade Year Two

BET.com looks at some of Africa’s most formidable women.

President Joyce Banda - As Forbes reports, President Joyce Banda — Malawi’s first female president and the continent’s second — has helped to remove monetary suspensions from Western supporters to Malawi and revived cash injections from the IMF. However, the controversial leader has also faced a number of financial and corruption scandals during her time in office. (Photo: Lefteris Pitarakis - WPA Pool /Getty Images)
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Lindiwe Mazibuko - The 32-year-old South African opposition leader has been unafraid to buck tradition and speak her mind about the country’s political state. (Photo: Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - As Africa’s first democratically elected female head of state, Liberian President Sirleaf continues to steer her country toward prosperity and stability. (Photo: Leon Neal - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

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Joyce Banda - As the second year of the African Union’s African Women’s Decade comes to a close, BET.com looks at some of Africa’s most formidable women. — Naeesa AzizMalawi president Joyce Banda stepped up to the helm of her country after the sudden death of former President Bingu wa Mutharika in April and has already made her mark; successfully freezing the country’s anti-gay legislation.(Photo: Lefteris Pitarakis - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

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