Untitled Document
 2011
Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
was commended with having “contributed to securing peace in Liberia,
to promoting economic and social development, and to strengthening the position of women.” The lovingly nicknamed “Iron Lady” is the fierce president of Liberia,
a tropical nation in West Africa.
At age 72, her determination has led her to become the first
and only elected female head-of-state in Africa.
Sirleaf’s political career has spanned almost 30 years.
She has endured prison, exile, and civil war. Since entering
office, she has been a reformer who has fought corruption and made primary school education
compulsory and free.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was born in Monrovia and married James Sirleaf
at the age of 17. They moved to the United States in 1961, where she
gained the degree of Master of Public Administration
from Harvard. She returned to Liberia to hold several government positions
in the Ministry of Finance. In 1980,
Master Sergeant Samuel Doe led a military coup of the government.
At first, Sirleaf joined Doe’s new government. Yet, after criticizing
Doe’s management, she had to flee the country.
In exile, Sirleaf worked for several international organizations
such as the World Bank, United Nations, and the African Union. During this
time, she investigated the Rwandan genocide. She also
reported on the effect of conflict on women, and encouraged women’s roles
in peace-building.
Returning to Liberia in 1985, she ran for Vice President. However,
she was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Samuel Doe was
still angry about her earlier criticisms.
In time, international organizations
pressured the government
into releasing her. She gave up running for Vice President, and ran
for Senate instead. Upon winning the
Senate seat, she refused to accept it. She claimed that election fraud led by Doe
made the entire election illegitimate. Doe arrested
her again for her actions. Upon release, she escaped to the United States.
Years of civil war followed in Liberia from 1989 to 1997. Sirleaf
once again returned, this time to run for president in 1997.
She lost heavily, and left the country
yet again. A second civil war erupted from 1999 to 2003.
Afterwards, Sirleaf ran for
president again in 2005. Finally, she prevailed and became the
first elected female head-of-state in Africa.
Liberia is a country stricken by poverty, ethnic tension, war, and
corruption. Yet, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has garnered the support of women to bring
peace. She has strengthened the economy, worked to clean the government,
and improved the lives of women
and children. |
|
|
|
