Woman of the Week: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
by Emma Bartley
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is famous for being the first female head of state in Africa. She was born on October 29, 1938, in Monrovia, Liberia.
Ellen married in 1955 at the age of 17. In 1961, she traveled to the United States with her husband, where she studied at the Madison Business College, the University of Colorado, and Harvard University.
She returned to Liberia and worked for the government there, notably as the Minister of Finance. However, in 1980, the president was overthrown and a military regime took over. Johnson Sirleaf was exiled to Kenya but returned to Liberia in 1985.
When she returned, she ran for a seat in the Senate and spoke out against the military regime. This led to her being sentenced to ten years in prison. She served a partial sentence before moving to Washington, D.C. She returned to Liberia for the third time in 1997.
“One has to look at my life story to see what I’ve done. I’ve paid a heavy price that many people don’t realize.”
In 1997, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was defeated by Charles Taylor in the presidential election. However, she persisted, and was elected as president in 2005, becoming the first female head of state ever to be democratically elected in Africa AND the world’s first black female president. She was then re-elected in 2011.
With Johnson Sirleaf’s leadership, Liberia’s debt had been erased by late 2010. She also secured millions of dollars of foreign investment in the country. Additionally, she created the Truth and Reconciliation Committee to heal ethnic tensions.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has worked to promote peace, women’s rights, and full participation in democratic processes. In 2011, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman for their work in women’s rights.
Fun Facts about Ellen Johnson Sirleaf!
- Her father was the first indigenous Liberian to sit in the national legislature.
- Ellen had four children.
- She is nicknamed the “Iron Lady.”
“All girls know that they can do anything now. That transformation is to me one of the most satisfying things.”