<p>Various scholars have noted the integral role political institutions and context play in shaping women’s political participation, yet few studies have examined how political context influences different forms of conventional and unconventional political participation. A growing body of research is beginning to examine the impact of political institutions and environments on African women’s political agency. This study examines how political context informs the gender gaps in political participation in Africa, drawing on multilevel analysis of three rounds of Afrobarometer data (2011–2018). The findings reveal a complex relationship between political openness and political engagement among African men and women. While some indicators of political openness narrow gender gaps, most were found to reduce women’s political participation, which reflects the paradox of democracy in the Global South. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these gendered dynamics for democratization in African contexts.</p>