Liberia and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Liberian Biography: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
This work has been produced by the following members:
Jasleen Sembhi – Democracy Lab Researcher
Liberia’s current president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is not only Africa’s first female head of state, but also the first black female president to ever be elected in the entire world. Her presidential entry in 2005 removed previous leader, Charles Taylor, with a new promise to increase the country’s economic development and conclude the corruption and civil war present in Liberia.
Born in 1938, the Liberian native gained a bachelor degree in her hometown of Monrovia and an accounting and economics degree in the United States. She concluded her studies by completing a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University.
Upon her return to Liberia, Johnson Sirleaf first entered politics as a finance minister, but later went into exile when the President she was serving was overthrown and killed. Sirleaf later returned to Liberia to run for a seat in Senate, but was sentenced to 10 years in prison after challenging her opponent, Samuel Doe’s, military regime.
A few years later, Johnson Sirleaf supported Charles Taylor’s effective rebellion against Doe and after an unsuccessful presidential campaign against Taylor in 1997, Johnson Sirleaf finally gained presidential status in 2005 after becoming head of the country’s Unity Party.
Throughout her career, she has advocated for the rights of women and highlighted the importance of education in creating a better future for her country’s citizens. Johnson Sirleaf has strengthened national security and good governance, while simultaneously boosting the national economy and revitalizing infrastructure in the country. As a result of her work in Liberia, the 76 year old won the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent attempts in advocating the safety of women while also increasing their rights to fully participate in peace-building work.
The most recent problem faced by Johnson Sirleaf’s government has been the Ebola crisis present in West Africa. Although nearly 3000 Liberians have died from the virus since it first infected the country last spring, assistance from the United Nations and United States has dramatically helped the country in reducing the rate of infection and death toll in comparison to neighboring countries who are still facing a significant amount of cases. Although Johnson Sirleaf regrets the government’s initial response to the crisis by not properly and adequately educating citizens about the disease, the president is “confident that now [Liberia] is in a position to win the battle [against Ebola].”
Her optimism towards eradicating the disease completely from the country has informed her decision to reopen border crossings with the still infected Sierra Leone and Guinea. The success of containing the disease in Liberia can be tied to Johnson Sirleaf’s continuous efforts to engage other states to offer their assistance. Through the provision of continuous public awareness and information about the disease alongside international calls for supplies and assistance, Johnson Sirleaf has positively positioned the nation to completely eradicate the Ebola virus in the coming months.
