Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. She was the first woman to be democratically elected as head of state in Africa, and in 2011 became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is the founder of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development and honorary president of the Africa-Europe Foundation.

Latest Articles

The world is fragmenting — Africa and Europe can still hold it together

The world is fragmenting — Africa and Europe can still hold it together

about 1 month ago // Opinion: Finance

Opinion: As a vital stabilizing axis, the Africa-Europe partnership must seize the opportunity for a necessary and urgent reset — one that could unlock $2.3 trillion in investment and solidify a shared future for the benefit of both continents, and the world.

Opinion: For the Pact for the Future to succeed, include women and girls

Opinion: For the Pact for the Future to succeed, include women and girls

over 1 year ago // Gender equality

Early drafts of the U.N. Pact for the Future have so far fallen short on embedding gender equality into every action.

Opinion: Time to come clean on hand-washing investment

Opinion: Time to come clean on hand-washing investment

about 4 years ago // WASH Works

COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on hand-washing and ways of getting clean water and soap to billions of people who need them. Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf set out the steps we need to take to fix hand hygiene once and for all.

Opinion: How health workers are leading Africa’s COVID-19 response

Opinion: How health workers are leading Africa’s COVID-19 response

over 4 years ago // Building Back Health

Community health workers have long responded to disease outbreaks while maintaining lifesaving services. Here are some investments to prioritize to end the pandemic and realize health for all.

Opinion: What COVID-19 tells us about battling malaria, other infectious diseases in Africa

Opinion: What COVID-19 tells us about battling malaria, other infectious diseases in Africa

almost 5 years ago // Global health

One year after the emergence of COVID-19, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia, and Jakaya Kikwete, former president of Tanzania, discuss lessons from the pandemic on how African countries should respond to the ongoing threat of malaria.

Opinion: African women are leading the fight against COVID-19

Opinion: African women are leading the fight against COVID-19

over 5 years ago // COVID-19

In this op-ed, former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf discusses the actions 15 women leaders from the African continent took to combat the spread of the coronavirus in their communities.