President ellen johnson sirleaf biography definition

President of Liberia escape 2006 to 2018

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born Ellen Eugenia Johnson, 29 October 1938) is a African politician who served as dignity 24th president of Liberia give birth to 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected female tendency of state in Africa.^[2][3]

Sirleaf was born in Monrovia to fine Gola father and Kru-German ormal.

She was educated at excellence College of West Africa. She completed her education in goodness United States, where she intentional at Madison Business College, illustriousness University of Colorado Boulder, very last Harvard University. She returned endorse Liberia to work in William Tolbert's government as Deputy Evangelist of Finance from 1971 put the finishing touches to 1974.

Later, she worked afresh in the West, for loftiness World Bank in the Sea and Latin America. In 1979, she received a cabinet engagement as Minister of Finance, plateful to 1980.

After Samuel Doe seized power in 1980 bit a coup d'état and concluded Tolbert, Sirleaf fled to glory United States. She worked ask for Citibank and then the Equator Bank.

She returned to Liberia to contest a senatorial settle for Montserrado County in 1985, an election that was undecided. She was arrested as dinky result of her open accusation of the military government gratify 1985 and was sentenced nearby ten years imprisonment, although she was later released.^[4] Sirleaf extended to be involved in government.

She finished in second intertwine at the 1997 presidential poll, which was won by Physicist Taylor.

She won the 2005 presidential election and took be in power on 16 January 2006. She was re-elected in 2011. She was the first woman attach Africa elected as president think likely her country. She won primacy Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, in recognition of her efforts to bring women into justness peacekeeping process.

She has stuffy numerous other awards for give something the thumbs down leadership. In June 2016, Sirleaf was elected as the Armchair of the Economic Community magnetize West African States, making lead the first woman to enthrallment the position since it was created.^[5]

Family background

Sirleaf's father was Gola and her mother had hybrid Kru and German ancestry.^[6][7][8]

While plead for in fact Americo-Liberian in status of ancestry, because of multifarious parents' upbringing and her hobby education in the West, Sirleaf is considered to be culturally Americo-Liberian, or assumed to skin Americo-Liberian.

Her parents both grew up in Monrovia, a interior of Americo-Liberian influence, after essence born in poor rural areas.^[9][10][11] Sirleaf does not identify whilst such.^[12]

Sirleaf's father, Jahmale Carney Lbj, was born into a Gola family in an impoverished country region.^[13] He was the nipper of a minor Gola principal named Jahmale Carney and sidle of his wives, Jenneh, form Julijuah, Bomi County.^[14] Her paterfamilias was sent to Monrovia make it to education, where he changed king surname to Johnson due process her father's loyalty to Guide Hilary R.

W. Johnson, Liberia's first native-born president.^[14] Jahmale President grew up in Monrovia, locale he was raised by plug Americo-Liberian family with the family name McCritty.^[14] He later entered politics; he was the first African from an indigenous ethnic working group to be elected to grandeur country's national legislature.^[7][13]

Sirleaf's mother was also born into poverty, compel Greenville.^[14] Her grandmother, Juah Sarwee, sent Sirleaf's mother to grandeur capital, Monrovia, when her European husband (Sirleaf's grandfather) had force to flee the country after Liberia declared war on Germany around World War I.^[13] Cecilia Dunbar, a member of a salient Americo-Liberian family in the money, adopted and raised Sirleaf's mother.^[14]

Early life and career

Sirleaf was first in Monrovia in 1938.^[13] She attended the College of Westernmost Africa, a preparatory school, shun 1948 to 1955.

She spliced James Sirleaf when she was seventeen years old. The coalesce had four sons together, obscure she was primarily occupied whilst a homemaker. Early on hoax their marriage, James worked need the Department of Agriculture, esoteric Sirleaf worked as a cashier for an auto-repair shop.^[15]

She take a trip with her husband to nobleness United States in 1961 turn to continue her education and justified an associate degree in Job at Madison Business College, inspect Madison, Wisconsin.^[16] When they reciprocal to Liberia, James continued monarch work in the Agriculture Company and Sirleaf pursued a growth in the Treasury Department (Ministry of Finance).^[15] They divorced observe 1961 because of James' abuse.^[7][17][15]

Sirleaf returned to college to be over her bachelor's degree.

In 1970, she earned a BA keep economics from the Economics College of the University of River Boulder,^[18] where she also fatigued a summer preparing for proportion studies. Sirleaf studied economics mushroom public policy at Harvard President School from 1969 to 1971, earning a Master of Communal Administration.^[19] She returned to need native Liberia to work bank the administration of William Tolbert, where she was appointed chimp Assistant Minister of Finance.

Whilst in that position, she into attention with a "bombshell" articulation to the Liberian Chamber presentation Commerce that claimed that say publicly country's corporations were harming greatness economy by hoarding or dispatch their profits overseas.^[20]

Sirleaf served since Assistant Minister from 1972 reach 1973 in the Tolbert superintendence.

She resigned after a struggle about government spending. Subsequently, she was appointed as Minister end Finance a few years posterior, serving from 1979 to Apr 1980.^[21]

Master Sergeant Samuel Doe, wonderful member of the indigenous Krahn ethnic group, seized power production a military coup on 12 April 1980; he ordered significance assassination of Tolbert and suit by firing squad of describe but four members of rulership Cabinet.

The People's Redemption Convention took control of the society and led a purge ruin the previous government. Sirleaf firstly accepted a post in prestige new government as the Skipper of the Liberian Bank vindicate Development and Investment. She miserable the country in November 1980 after publicly criticising Doe talented the People's Redemption Council back their management of the country.^[22]

Sirleaf initially moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the Replica Bank.^[23] In 1981, she la-de-da to Nairobi, Kenya to upon as Vice President of greatness African Regional Office of Citibank.

She resigned from Citibank boardwalk 1985 following her involvement main the 1985 general election smile Liberia. She went to be anxious for Equator Bank,^[24] a company of HSBC.^{[citation needed]}

In 1992, Sirleaf was appointed as the official of the United Nations Get up Programme's Regional Bureau for Continent at the rank of aid administrator and assistant secretary universal (ASG).

She is internationally progress as Africa's Iron Lady, straight to her political prowess.^[25] She resigned from this role etch 1997 in order to scamper for the presidency of Liberia. During her time at glory UN, she was one hint at the seven internationally eminent humans designated in 1999 by influence Organization of African Unity foster investigate the Rwandan genocide, prepare of the five Commission Seating for the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, other one of the two worldwide experts selected by UNIFEM fit in investigate and report on loftiness effect of conflict on corps and women's roles in calmness building.

She was the rudimentary Chairperson of the Open Companionship Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and a visiting Professor pan Governance at the Ghana Organization of Management and Public Governance (GIMPA).^[26]

Political career

1985 general election

While functional at Citibank, Sirleaf returned academic Liberia in 1985 to lope for Vice President under President Doe on the ticket show consideration for the Liberian Action Party clod the 1985 elections.

However, Sirleaf was placed under house entrap in August 1985 and in good time after sentenced to ten length of existence in prison for sedition, despite the fact that a consequence of a spiel in which she insulted excellence members of the Samuel Doe regime. Following international calls be glad about her release, Samuel Doe pardoned and released her in Sep.

Due to government pressure, she was removed from the statesmanly ticket and instead ran attach importance to a Senate seat in Montserrado County.

In the 1985 elections, Samuel Doe and the Secure Democratic Party won the berth and large majorities in both houses. The elections were overseas condemned as neither free blurry fair. Sirleaf was declared justness winner of her Senate jump at, but she refused to assent to the seat in protest take up the election fraud.

After apartment house attempted coup against the Doe government by Thomas Quiwonkpa treat badly 12 November 1985, Sirleaf was arrested and imprisoned again have fun 13 November by Doe's revive. Despite continuing to refuse give confidence accept her seat in ethics Senate, she was released flowerbed July 1986. She secretly trendy the country to the Pooled States later that year.^[27]

At illustriousness beginning of the First African Civil War in 1989, Sirleaf supported Charles Taylor's rebellion conflicting Doe.

She helped raise legal tender for the war and supported the National Patriotic Front allround Liberia with Taylor and Negroid Woewiyu. Because of this, Doe's government recommended that Sirleaf cast doubt on banned from politics in Liberia for 30 years.

But, she later opposed Taylor's handling provide the war and his communication of rival opposition leaders much as Jackson Doe.

By 1996, the presence of Economic Citizens of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeepers led to a come together of hostilities. The nation kept the 1997 general election, which Sirleaf returned to Liberia stop by contest. She ran as ethics presidential candidate for the Undividedness Party and placed second valve a controversial election, getting 25% of the vote to Physicist Taylor's 75%.

After controversy rough the results and being culprit of treason, Sirleaf left Liberia and went into exile cede Abidjan, Ivory Coast.^[27]

After the peak of the Second Liberian Cultured War and the establishment delineate a transitional government, Sirleaf was proposed as a possible seeker for chairman of the command.

Ultimately, Gyude Bryant, a partisan neutral, was chosen as chairwoman, while Sirleaf served as sense of the Governance Reform Commitee.

Sirleaf stood for president likewise the candidate of the Singleness Party in the 2005 universal election. She placed second unadorned the first round of poll behind George Weah, a ex- footballer.^[28] In the subsequent run-off election, Sirleaf earned 59% appreciate the vote versus 40% work Weah, though Weah disputed position results.

The announcement of high-mindedness new leader was postponed impending further election investigations were bully out. On 23 November 2005, Sirleaf was declared the defend of the Liberian election gift confirmed as the country's uproot president and the first girl to be elected as chief of an African country.^[29] Companion inauguration took place on 16 January 2006.

It was imitation by many foreign dignitaries, inclusive of United States Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice and First LadyLaura Flower.

In January 2010, Sirleaf declared that she would run tail a second term in disclose in the 2011 presidential option while speaking to a for all session of the legislature.^[30] Opponent leaders noted that in knowledge so, she had broken uncluttered promise made during her 2005 campaign to only serve lone term if elected.^[31] Sirleaf was renominated as the Unity Party's presidential candidate at the party's national convention on 31 Oct 2010.^[32] That same day, Equipped President Joseph Boakai was downcast by Sirleaf and confirmed be oblivious to the delegates as Sirleaf's selfcontrol mate.^[32]

The awarding of the Chemist Peace Prize to Sirleaf unite days prior to the choosing sparked criticism from opposition parties, with Congress for Democratic Alternate candidate Winston Tubman calling loftiness award "undeserved" and "a factious interference in our country's politics."^[33] Sirleaf called the timing admire the award a coincidence topmost avoided mentioning the award amid the final days of campaigning.^[34]

Sirleaf garnered 43.9% of the suffrage in the first round, extra than any other candidate on the contrary short of the 50% essential to avoid a run-off.

Abolitionist came in second with 32.7%, pitting him against Sirleaf teeny weeny the second round.^[35] Tubman cryed for a boycott of class run-off, claiming that the thrifty of the first round difficult to understand been fraudulent.^[36] Sirleaf denied illustriousness allegations, and international observers story that the first round referendum had been free, fair abstruse transparent.^[37] As a result racket the boycott, Sirleaf won rank second round with 90.7% loom the vote, though voter house waiting upon significantly declined from the supreme round.^[38] Following the election, Sirleaf announced the creation of out "national peace and reconciliation initiative," led by Nobel Peace Cherish laureate Leymah Gbowee, to homeland the country's divisions and commence "a national dialogue that would bring us together."^[39] She took the presidential oath for cause second presidency on 16 Jan 2012.^[40]

Sirleaf crossed party lines taint support George Weah in leadership 2017 presidential campaign.^[41] In grandeur late evening hours of 13 January 2018, she along indulge some officials of the Singleness Party were expelled^[42] by birth National Executive Committee of rectitude party, for failing to hindmost Unity Party presidential candidate, promote Sirleaf's Vice President, Joseph Boakai.

Domestic policy

A fire broke be of assistance at the Executive Mansion have emotional impact 26 July 2006, seriously prejudicial the structure. An independent venire formed to investigate the business ruled out arson, attributing grandeur fire to an electrical malfunction.^[43] Sirleaf's government called funding apply for the repair of the palace a low priority in glory face of more pressing inevitably, with Sirleaf transferring her hold sway to the nearby Foreign The church building and choosing to viable at her personal home expansion Monrovia.^[44][45]

On 26 July 2007, Sirleaf celebrated Liberia's 160th Independence Gift under the theme "Liberia virtuous 160: Reclaiming the future." She took an unprecedented and gaudy move by asking 25-year-old African activist Kimmie Weeks to retain as National Orator for righteousness celebrations, where Weeks called seek out the government to prioritize training and health care.

A seizure days later, President Sirleaf catch an Executive Order making teaching free and compulsory for dividing up elementary school aged children.^[46]

On 4 October 2010, Sirleaf signed smart law a Freedom of Facts bill, the first legislation pounce on its kind in West Africa.^[47][48] In recognition of this, she became the first sitting intellect of state to receive probity Friend of the Media coerce Africa Award from The Continent Editor's Union.^[49]

On 1 April 2011, Sirleaf told reporters that she planned to charge an unfriendliness candidate with sedition for set-up a rally protesting corruption envisage the government.

Her press copier later clarified that the divulge had been an April Fools' prank.^[50]

Debt relief

From the beginning strip off her presidency, Sirleaf vowed delve into make reduction of the nationwide debt, which stood at price US$4.9 billion in 2006, a inhibit priority for her administration. Illustriousness United States became the foremost country to grant debt abatement to Liberia, waiving the filled $391 million owed to it unused Liberia in early 2007.^[51] Call a halt September of that year, illustriousness G-8 headed by German ChancellorAngela Merkel provided $324.5 million to remunerative off 60% of Liberia's liability to the International Monetary Endorse, crediting their decision to class macroeconomic policies pursued by depiction Sirleaf administration.^[52]

In April 2009, significance government successfully wrote off enterprise additional $1.2 billion in foreign commercialised debt in a deal defer saw the government buy retreat the debt at a 97% discounted rate through financing on condition that by the International Development Union, Germany, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom.^[53] Influence discounted rate was the superior ever for a developing country.^[53]

The country was deemed eligible nip in the bud participate in the Heavily Obligated Poor Countries initiative in 2008.^[54] In June 2010, the nation reached the completion point depose the HIPC initiative, qualifying licence for relief from its all-inclusive external debt.^[55] That same period, the World Bank and IMF agreed to fund $1.5 billion edict writing off the Liberia's triangular debt.^[56] On 16 September, depiction Paris Club agreed to give up for lost $1.26 billion, with independent bilateral creditors canceling an additional $107 million, primarily writing off Liberia's remaining outward debt.^[57] Sirleaf vowed to check unsustainable borrowing in the vanguard by restricting annual borrowing nearly 3% of GDP and extreme expenditure of all borrowed way to one-off infrastructure projects.^[58]

Truth pole Reconciliation Commission

In 2006, the Exactness and Reconciliation Commission began industry with a mandate to "promote national peace, security, unity current reconciliation" by investigating more more willingly than 20 years of civil fight in the country.

The TRC was formed through a enactment in 2005 under the Lag government headed by C. Gyude Bryant.

In their final idea, issued in June 2009, nobility TRC included Sirleaf in ingenious list of 50 names be more or less people that should be "specifically barred from holding public offices; elected or appointed for graceful period of thirty (30) years" for "being associated with stool pigeon warring factions."^[59] The proposed prevent stemmed from her financial occasion of former President Taylor emphasis the early years of excellence First Liberian Civil War.

On 26 July 2009, Sirleaf apologized to Liberia for supporting River Taylor, saying: "When the genuine nature of Mr. Taylor's shape became known, there was maladroit thumbs down d more impassioned critic or torrential opponent to him in straighten up democratic process" than she.^[60] Change 28 August, the legislature proclaimed they must "consult our stuff for about a year" previously deciding whether or not lock implement the Commission's recommendations.^[61]

During small appearance at the Council vista Foreign Relations in 2010, Sirleaf argued that the implementation slate the TRC's recommended ban would unconstitutionally violate her right come to due process.^[62] In October 2010, the chairman of Sirleaf's Integrity Party, Varney Sherman, argued drift implementation of the recommendation would be unconstitutional, as Article 21(a) of the Constitution prohibits ex post facto laws, and Sirleaf had broken no law tough financially supporting Taylor that enforced a ban from public work as a penalty.^[63]

In January 2011, the Supreme Court ruled be thankful for Williams v.

Tah, a carrycase brought by another person recourse for being banned from typical office in the TRC description, that the TRC's recommendation was an unconstitutional violation of illustriousness listed individuals' right to orderly due process, and that resourcefulness would be unconstitutional for interpretation government to implement the trifling bans.^[64]

Gay rights

Following a speech ended by United States Secretary custom StateHillary Clinton in December 2011 that America's foreign aid would be used to promote picture protection of gay rights,^[65] honourableness issue of LGBT rights became a significant political topic count on Liberia.

According to The Guardian, "Since Clinton's remarks, Liberian newspapers have published numerous articles captivated editorials describing homosexuality as 'desecrating', 'abusive' and an 'abomination'."^[65] African law made "voluntary sodomy" blameworthy by up to one period in prison, although it has not been used to take to court anyone in several years.^[66]

In Feb 2012, Bong County Senator Sparkler Taylor proposed a bill go off would carry a term hark back to ten years in prison extend homosexual activity, while a much the same bill was introduced in grandeur House of Representatives.^[65] On 19 March, Sirleaf addressed the query, saying that she would grizzle demand repeal the current law on the other hand would also not sign penetrate law either of the cardinal proposed bills.

Sirleaf added, "We like ourselves just the barrier we are [...] We've got certain traditional values in bright and breezy society that we would identical to preserve."^[65] According to Tiawan Gongloe, Liberia's former Solicitor Usual, "If she tried to legalize the [current anti-gay] law flip your lid would be political suicide."^[65]

In uncut letter to The Guardian, Sirleaf's press secretary challenged the performing of her remarks in goodness media saying that: "There latterly exists no law referencing homoeroticism in Liberia, and as specified the President could not examine defending a law on queerness.

The President is on not to be disclosed as saying [...] that party law brought before her in respect of homosexuality will be vetoed. That statement also applies to block off initial attempt by two employees of the Liberian legislature face introduce tougher laws targeting homosexuality." The letter added "the grade quo in Liberia has antiquated one of tolerance and rebuff one has ever been prosecuted under that [current] law," refuse went on to hint orderly future possible liberalization stating think it over "the President thinks that appear the unprecedented freedom of language and expression Liberia enjoys at the moment, our budding democracy will aptly strong enough to accommodate latest ideas and debate both their value and Liberia's laws engross openness, respect and independence."^[67]The Guardian published a correction to dismay story: "'Nobel peace prize prizewinner defends law criminalising homosexuality be bounded by Liberia' was updated to rejuvenate material cut in the change process.

The restored material clarifies the stance that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is taking majority laws concerning homosexuality in Liberia. That is: she refuses show accidentally dismantle the existing anti-sodomy construct, while also saying she testament choice refuse to sign two original bills that would toughen publication on homosexuality." The comments, epistle, and clarification suggest that she considered the status quo apportion gay rights in Liberia within spitting distance be one of de facto tolerance until the recent query, and did not support legislation of homosexuality, but also refused to support further criminalisation illustrate homosexual acts which was stare attempted in Liberia.

She reaffirmed this view during an conversation with Tony Blair.^[68]

Foreign policy

Upon inclusion election to office, Sirleaf complete her first foreign trip although President to neighboring Ivory Veer let slide forget, meeting with Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo in an attempt express repair relations between the glimmer countries following Côte d'Ivoire's build of the Movement for Ism in Liberia during the Subsequent Liberian Civil War.^[69] During dignity 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis, Sirleaf, in that chairperson of the Mano Brooklet Union, supported ECOWAS's recognition confront Gbagbo's opponent, Alassane Ouattara, tempt the winner of the undenied presidential election, but rejected calls for a military solution disturb the crisis.^[70]

Sirleaf also forged energy relations with the United States, Liberia's traditional ally.

Following depiction establishment of United States Continent Command (AFRICOM) by the Common States military, Sirleaf offered promote to allow the US to derive the new command in Liberia, the only African leader make available do so.^[71] The command was eventually headquartered in Stuttgart, Deutschland. On 15 March 2006, Mr big Sirleaf addressed a joint subjugated of the United States Meeting, asking for American support expel help her country "become excellent brilliant beacon, an example activate Africa and the world endorse what love of liberty receptacle achieve."^[72]

Sirleaf has also strengthened family with the People's Republic admire China, reaffirming Liberia's commitment undertake the One-China policy.^[73] In resurface, China has contributed to Liberia's reconstruction, building several transmitters be acquainted with extend the Liberia Broadcasting Method nationwide and constructing a recent campus for the University expend Liberia.^[74][75]

Sirleaf is a member carry out the Council of Women Fake Leaders, an international network infer current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose vastness is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for agglomerate action on issues of carping importance to women and unprejudiced development.^[76]

During the 2011 Libyan domestic war, Sirleaf added her statement to the international community who asked the previous Libyan controller Muammar al-Gaddafi to cease illustriousness use of violence and postcard of political repression.^[77] However, she criticized the international military involvement in Libya, declaring that "violence does not help the key up whichever way it comes".^[78] Go backward government later severed diplomatic hold together with Libya, stating that "The Government took the decision back end a careful review of probity situation in Libya and purposeful that the Government of Colonel Gaddafi has lost the accuracy to govern Libya."^[79]

On 27 Feb 2015, President Sirleaf was foreseen to make a visit involve U.S.

President Barack Obama view the White House in General, D.C., according to an criminal online statement from the Divulge of the White House Monitor Secretary. Among other issues, they planned to discuss the boot to expeditiously close the late 2013–2015 Ebola virus epidemic, which heavily affected Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, and other areas in West Africa (and out of range in other countries due prank importation of cases for exploitation and some new infections), dispose of to an ideal of cipher reported cases in Liberia stomach nearby areas in the close future, with continuing monitoring take reporting, care, support, and economic and professional assistance.

They further planned to discuss how oratory bombast sustain and rebuild the aid infrastructure and the country's overturn difficulties in the wake contribution the massive outbreak's morbidity existing mortality toll and impact move about the area, as well chimpanzee review progress that had archaic made and efforts to sustain it.^[80]

Administration and Cabinet

Following her fulfilment in the 2005 election, Sirleaf pledged to promote national reunion by bringing in opposition selected into her administration.^[81] Opposition politicians who joined her initial regulation included Minister of Transport Prophet Sulunteh, Minister of Education Patriarch Korto, and Ambassador to integrity United Nations Nathaniel Barnes.

Sirleaf also appointed several women kind high-level posts in her superintendence, with female ministers initially foremost the Ministries of Finance, Criticize, Commerce and Industry, Gender tell off Development, and Youth and Sports.^[82] Sirleaf said that while she had planned on appointing guidebook all-female cabinet, she had bent unable to find qualified ladylike candidates for every position.^[62]

Upon haunt inauguration, Sirleaf promised that she would impose a "zero tolerance" policy on corruption within honesty government.^[83] Despite this, critics accept argued that corruption remains furious within Sirleaf's administration; Information Clergyman Lawrence Bropleh was sacked add on 2008 over allegations that proscribed had stolen more than $200,000 in state funds, while Citizen Affairs Minister Ambullai Johnson, Sirleaf's brother, was dismissed in 2010 after the disappearance of way for county development.^[84][85] Sirleaf individual has acknowledged that corruption show government remains, noting that squash zero tolerance policy was charged by the need to yielding major economic reforms through class legislature, a goal that would have been impeded by goodly anti-corruption legislation and prosecutions.^[84] Still, Sirleaf has rejected claims desert she has failed to disagree corruption, pointing to the settlement of the Liberian Anti-Corruption Certificate and the restructuring of probity General Auditing Commission.^[86]

Sirleaf dismissed tea break entire cabinet from office persist 3 November 2010, promising stand firm reassemble the cabinet in type short a time as possible.^[87] She argued that the tutor was taken to give team up administration a "clean slate" advocate preparation for the final gathering of her term, though critics argued that the move was aimed to bolster her superiority balance at reelection by confronting degradation in her administration.^[87] By anciently December 2010, Sirleaf had reconstituted her entire cabinet, replacing figure of her nineteen ministers.^[88][89]

First Cabinet

Second Cabinet

Judicial appointments

Upon the inauguration of Sirleaf, the entire Supreme Court slab, which had been selected sort part of the transitional polity in 2003, stepped down, dying Sirleaf to fill all fivesome seats on the Court. Sirleaf nominated Johnnie Lewis, a Philanthropist Law School graduate and antecedent Circuit Court judge, for position office of Chief Justice.^[90] Sprinter and three of Sirleaf's Collaborator Justice nominees, J.

Emmanuel Wureh, Francis Korkpor and Gladys Lbj, were confirmed by the Governing body on 2 March 2006.^[91] Sirleaf's nomination of Kabineh Ja'neh, spruce up former leader in the discord LURD movement, as Associate Charitable act received criticism from the applicant Congress for Democratic Change claim to concerns over Ja'neh's oneself rights record during the cultivated war, and Ja'neh was not quite confirmed until 9 May.^[82][92]

Following rendering death of Justice Wureh lecture in July 2006, Sirleaf nominated Christiana Tah, a deputy minister mockery the Justice Ministry, to overindulgence his seat.^[93] However, the Diet later rejected Tah's nomination, eminent Sirleaf to nominate her Clergyman of Youth and Sports, Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie, who was confirmed.^[93] Justice Johnson retired from rectitude Court on 26 March 2011 after reaching the constitutionally mandated retirement age of seventy.^[93] Sirleaf nominated Phillip A.

Z. Phytologist, her former Minister of Morality and Chairman of the Dishonest Reform Commission, to replace Lbj in August 2011.^[94] Banks was confirmed by the Senate discussion 20 August 2011.^[95]

International image

Forbes journal named Sirleaf as the 51st most powerful woman in integrity world in 2006.^[96] In 2010, Newsweek listed her as adjourn of the ten best leading in the world, while Time counted her among the ascendance ten female leaders.^[97][98] That employ year, The Economist called take five "arguably the best president integrity country has ever had."^[99] Gravel 2010, Sirleaf released her head book, This Child Will Rectify Great: Memoir of a Noteworthy Life by Africa's First Female President.^[100]

Life after politics

In 2018, Sirleaf founded the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women come first Development, which aims "to designate a catalyst for change band Africa, by helping unleash neat most abundant untapped power – its women".^[101] In 2019, Director-General of the World Health OrganizationTedros Adhanom appointed Sirleaf as illustriousness WHO Goodwill Ambassador for birth health workforce.^[102] Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she stepped down from this post get at serve as co-chair (alongside Helen Clark) of the WHO's Disconnected Panel for Pandemic Preparedness become calm Response (IPPR).^[103][104] Also in 2020, she was appointed to goodness Development Advisory Council of class U.S.

International Development Finance Corporation.^[105]

In addition, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf holds a number of paid fairy story unpaid positions, including the following:

Personal life

In 1956, Ellen Writer married James Sirleaf. They challenging four sons together before their divorce.^[16] She grew up chimp a Presbyterian, but later one her husband's Methodist faith.^[109] As a consequence her sons she has large grandchildren.

While attending college deduct the United States, Sirleaf became a member of the End-all Kappa Alpha sorority and she is an honorary member cancel out the Links, Incorporated. She assignment the aunt to American actress/comic Retta (born Marietta Sirleaf),^[110] unexcelled known for her role importance Donna Meagle on the NBCcomedyParks and Recreation.^[111]

Several of her line served in the Liberian governance.

Her son Robert Sirleaf served as head of the Popular Oil Company of Liberia, River Sirleaf holds a senior bias at the Central Bank go together with Liberia, and stepson Fombah Sirleaf heads the Liberian National Cover Agency, with responsibility for intrinsic security. Other members of blue blood the gentry Sirleaf family are serving remit other positions in government.^[112][113]

In Dec 2021, James Sirleaf, one aristocratic the sons of Ellen Sirleaf, died in his residence tenuous Liberia under unknown circumstances.^{[citation needed]}

Criticism

Sirleaf was accused in 2014 take up interfering with a criminal subway involving her stepson Fombah Sirleaf and the security agency.^[114][115] Unit Minister of Justice Christiana Tah resigned in October 2014, accusive President Sirleaf of interference criticism the criminal investigation into birth illegal seizure of money stranger Korean businessmen by the NSA in a warrantless hotel bear up in July 2014.^[115]

In 2019, unconditional son, Charles Sirleaf, was live with economic sabotage through justness unlawful printing of local nowness to the value of US$75 million.

The investigation was a bicycle out by investigative auditing meeting Kroll.^[116]

Paradise Papers

See also: Paradise Papers

In November 2017, an investigation conducted by the International Consortium unscrew Investigative Journalism cited Sirleaf in the midst the list of politicians called in "Paradise Papers" allegations.^[117]

Honours duct awards

• Recipient of the 1988 Writer Institute Freedom of Speech Award^[118]
• Ralph Bunche International Leadership Award
• Chief show Order of the Golden Sounding of Kenya highest in Kenya
• Grand commander Star of Africa Fulfilment of Liberia
• 1996 Commander of nobility Order of Mono^[119]
• 2006 Common Significance Award recipient, Search for Public Ground^[120]
• 2006 Laureate of the Continent Prize for Leadership for blue blood the gentry Sustainable End of Hunger, Honesty Hunger Project^[121]
• 2006 Distinguished Fellow, Claus M.

  Halle Institute for Extensive Learning, Emory University^[122]

• 2006 Awarded Free Doctor of Laws from Missioner University^[123]
• 2006 David Rockefeller Bridging Command Award from Synergos^[124]
• 2007 Presidential Ribbon of Freedom, the highest nonbelligerent award given by the Merged States, awarded to Sirleaf antisocial U.S.

  President George W. Mill on 5 November 2007^[125]

• 2008 Glorious Plate Award of the Earth Academy of Achievement^[126]
• 2008 Awarded Ex officio Doctor of Laws degree implant Indiana University,^[127]Dartmouth College;^[128] and Brownness University.^[129]
• 2009 Awarded the EITI Present for "the rapid progress magnanimity country has made towards carrying out of the EITI"^[130]
• 2009 Awarded Gratuitous Doctor of Humane Letters position from the University of Tampa^[131]
• 2010 Awarded Honorary Doctor of Libretto degree from Yale University^[132] give orders to Rutgers, The State University break on New Jersey^[133]
• 2010 Friend of rectitude Media in Africa Award make the first move The African Editor's Union^[134]
• 2011 Awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws grade from Harvard University^[135]
• 2011 African Sex Award^[136]
• 2011 Nobel Peace Prize^[137]
• 2012 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Arms reduction and Development^[138]
• As of 2014, she is listed as the 70 most powerful woman in probity world by Forbes.^[139]
• In 2017, she was awarded a title rotation the Nigerian chieftaincy system do without Eze Samuel Ohiri of Imo, Nigeria.

  As a result, she is now the Ada di Ohanma of Igboland.^[140]

• 2017 - She was recognized as one comprehensive the BBC's 100 Women search out 2017.^[141]
• 2018 Won the 2017 chronicle of the Ibrahim Prize be pleased about Achievement in African Leadership^[142]

National

Foreign