Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician who served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2017, making her the first female President of Liberia and Africa. As a Nobel Peace Laureate, also referred to internationally as the Iron Lady of Africa, she promoted peace, justice, women’s empowerment, and democratic rule, where she emerged as the first democratically elected female head of state.
Sirleaf, who was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace in 2021, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest Civilian award, for her courage and unwavering commitment to expanding freedom and empowering the lives of Africans. She was also honoured with France’s Highest Public distinction and named by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.
Born on October 29th, 1938, in Monrovia, Liberia, she attended colleges in the United States and worked for many international development organisations. Her political career began in the 1970s after she served in various roles in the Liberian government as an assistant Minister for Finance and later as Minister of Finance.
Sirleaf openly criticised the government and its policies, which landed her in prison in 1985 and after being released, she went into exile in the US and worked for the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme.
In 1997, she ran for president in Liberia but was defeated. She ran again in 2005 and was elected as the 24th President.
During her presidency, Sirleaf focused on issues such as improving governance, tackling corruption, and promoting economic development. She also played a role in promoting women’s rights and empowerment, both in Liberia and internationally. Her leadership during the Ebola crisis in 2014–2015 was widely praised, as she worked to mobilise resources and coordinate an effective response.
African women have made significant strides in political leadership; several countries have elected women as presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime ministers, speakers, and other high-ranking political positions.
Examples include Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who became the first female president of Liberia in 2006; Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, who served as the President of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018; DR. Wandera Kazibwe, who served as the first female Vice President of Africa (Uganda from 1994–2003); and Joyce Adeline Bamford, the first female Speaker of Parliament in Africa (Ghana 2009–2013).
African women leaders have been strong advocates for gender equality and women’s rights. They have fought against discriminatory practises such as female genital mutilation, child marriages, gender-based violence, and equal representation in politics and Parliament like their male counterparts.