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Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

29 October 1938 – present

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician and economist who served as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, the first woman elected head of state in Africa. Trained in economics and public administration in the United States, she worked in Liberian government finance and at international institutions before winning the 2005 election, and shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Life events

Birth in Monrovia
29 October 1938

Born in the Liberian capital.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Moves to the United States to study
1961

Travelled to the United States with her husband and studied accounting and economics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Master of Public Administration from Harvard University
1971

Completed her graduate degree at the Harvard Kennedy School before returning to Liberia.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Minister of Finance of Liberia
1979 – 1980

Appointed finance minister in the government of President William Tolbert.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Leaves Liberia after the coup
1980

Went abroad following the 1980 coup that overthrew the Tolbert government, working in banking and international organisations.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa
1992 – 1997

Headed the United Nations Development Programme's Africa bureau.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Runs in the 1997 presidential election
1997

Finished second to Charles Taylor and afterwards left the country again.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Wins the 2005 presidential election
November 2005

Defeated George Weah in a run-off vote.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Inaugurated as President of Liberia
16 January 2006 – 22 January 2018

Took office as the first woman elected head of state in Africa.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Nobel Peace Prize
October 2011

Shared the prize with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman for work on women's rights and peacebuilding.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓