Their story
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became Africa's first elected female head of state when she won Liberia's presidential election in 2005, following a devastating 14-year civil war. A Harvard-trained economist, she steered Liberia through post-war reconstruction, secured debt relief, and rebuilt the nation's institutions. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her non-violent struggle for women's safety and their rights to full participation in peace-building. She served two terms, stepping down in 2018.