Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

Today, 16th of January in history is a very important day for the current Liberian President, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She was sworn in as the first female head of state in Africa on the 16th of January, 2006 and 16th of January, 2012 for her first and second term in office as President Republic of Liberia respectively.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Born on the 29th of October 1938.

Political Life

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served under several Liberian government before
contesting in the 1985 national election, in that year,she won a seat in the Senate, however she did not take the office citing widespread electoral fraud as reason for this. She had to go on exile because of the
turn of events in the political atmosphere at that time.

Ellen contested again in the 1997 election, this time as the Presidential
candidate of the Unity Party. She lost to Charles Taylor.

She was not deterred by her past political woes, she ran again for the office of

the President of Liberia in the 2005 national election and won. It was a keenly

contested election between her and the world famous football star, George
Opong Weah. This made her the first democratically elected female President
in Africa.

In the year 2011 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won a second term in office as the
President of Liberia. She won on the same political party she entered office
through, the Unity Party. Her opponent in the election was Congress for
Democratic  Change candidate Winston Tubman.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was awarded Nobel Peace Prize together with two other

women Tawakkul Karman , Leymah Gbowee in 2011.