Ellen Johnson sirleaf
1938–
President of Liberia for more than a decade, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman to be elected as a head of state in Africa.
Born in Monrovia, Sirleaf was the daughter of Jahmale Carney Johnson, the first indigenous member of Liberia’s National Legislature. In 1961, she left Liberia to study in the US at Harvard University, before returning to Liberia in 1971 to work in president William Tolbert’s cabinet as assistant finance minister. Nine years later, Master Sergeant Samuel Doe led a coup against Tolbert, executing him and many of his cabinet. Sirleaf fled to the US, then Kenya, working for Citibank and Equator Bank. In 1985, Sirleaf returned to Liberia and ran for the vice presidency. Following the election of Samuel Doe, Sirleaf was briefly imprisoned, then forced into a 12-year exile.
Sirleaf returned to Liberia in 1997 to run for president, coming second to Charles Taylor, who exiled her for alleged treason to the Ivory Coast. Finally voted into office in 2005, Sirleaf stabilized the nation after years of civil war. Popular for her free market economics, she was reelected in 2012 and erased almost $5 billion in foreign debt. She resigned in 2017.
“The future belongs to us, because we have taken charge of it.”
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 2006
Sirleaf’s supporters cheered when her political party, Unity, met in 2011 in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, following her reelection.
MILESTONES
Government career
Serves as assistant minister of finance, 1972–73, before becoming minister of finance, 1979–80.
seeking power
Runs for president, 1997, following first Liberian Civil War (1989–97). Loses vote to Charles Taylor.
Fights corruption
As president, establishes Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 2006, to investigate corruption in her government.
Returns to office
Resumes presidency for second term following reelection, 2012.