Namibia marked a milestone in its history on March 21, when Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as the country’s first female president. At 72, she joins a small group of female African national leaders, following Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Joyce Banda (Malawi), and Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), all of whom attended her inauguration.

Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 57% of the vote, defeating her main rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), who garnered 26%. Itula, a former member of the Southwest Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), struggled to unseat the ruling party, which has held power since Namibia gained independence in 1990. SWAPO, founded in 1960, has been the dominant force in Namibian politics for over 64 years. The election, marred by a controversial three-day voting extension, faced opposition protests, but Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory stood, reaffirming SWAPO’s grip on power despite its declining voter base.

One of her first moves was a cabinet reshuffle, reducing the number of ministers from 21 to 14 and giving it a female majority for the first time, with eight women and six men. The move signals a push for gender inclusivity and, her supporters hope, greater governance efficiency and economic stability.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership will be tested as Namibia faces major economic and social challenges, including a 30% unemployment rate, 46% youth joblessness, slow GDP growth, and a rising 71% debt-to-GDP ratio. She finds herself with a tall order: to create jobs, tackle inequality, and drive economic reforms.