Possible Clues:

• Starts off with end of 9 across going to a women's institute in Africa
• African country's constitution accepted by chief, mostly
• African land whose name consists of three state postal abbreviations
• I'm upset about a political act in African country
• Landlocked African country
• I am taken aback about legislation in African republic
• Young girl briefly holds rule in state
• African country or lake
• A regulation blocking route in African country
• Landlocked country in Africa, formerly Nyasaland