View source for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

{{Short description|President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018}}
{{Use Liberian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
| image               = Ellen Johnson Sirleaf February 2015.jpg
| caption             = Sirleaf in 2015
| office              = 24th [[President of Liberia]]
| vicepresident       = [[Joseph Boakai]]
| term_start          = 16 January 2006
| term_end            = 22 January 2018
| predecessor         = [[Gyude Bryant]]
| successor           = [[George Weah]]
| office2             = [[Ministry of Finance (Liberia)|Minister of Finance]]
| president2          = [[William Tolbert]]
| term_start2         = 1979
| term_end2           = 12 April 1980
| predecessor2        = [[James T. Phillips Jr.]]
| successor2          = Perry Zulu
| president3          = [[Amos Sawyer]]
| term_start3         = 1990
| term_end3           = 1990<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435083692814|title=Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1990Mar-Dec.|via=HathiTrust|year=2003 |hdl=2027/osu.32435083692814}}</ref>
| predecessor3        = [[Emmanuel Shaw]]
| successor3          = [[Stephen Byron Tarr]]
| birth_name          = Ellen Eugenia Johnson
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=y|1938|10|29}}
| birth_place         = [[Monrovia]], [[Liberia]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = {{ubl|[[Liberian Action Party]]<br />(1985–1996)|[[Unity Party (Liberia)|Unity]]<br />(1997–2018)|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]<br />(2018–present)}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|James Sirleaf|1956|1961|end=div}}
| children            = 4
| education           = {{ubl|[[Madison Business College]] ([[associate degree|AA]])|[[University of Colorado, Boulder]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Harvard University]] ([[Master of Public Administration|MPA]])}}
| signature           = Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signature.svg
| awards              = [[Nobel Peace Prize]] ([[2011 Nobel Peace Prize|2011]])
| relatives           = [[Retta]] (niece)
}}

'''Ellen Eugenia Johnson Sirleaf''' (born 29 October 1938) is a [[Liberia]]n politician who served as the 24th [[president of Liberia]] from 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected [[List of elected and appointed female heads of state|female head of state]] in Africa.<ref>{{Citation |title=Johnson Sirleaf, Ellen Eugenia, (born 29 Oct. 1938), President of Liberia, since 2006 |date=2015-12-01 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u271942 |work=Who's Who |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u271942 |access-date=2022-03-30|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hough |first1=Lory |title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: From HKS to the campaign trail |url=https://www.hks.harvard.edu/research-insights/policy-topics/public-leadership-management/ellen-johnson-sirleaf |access-date=7 September 2024 |work=[[Harvard Kennedy School]] |date=September 10, 2006}}</ref>

Sirleaf was born in [[Monrovia]] to a [[Gola people|Gola]] father and [[Kru people|Kru]]-German mother. She was educated at the [[College of West Africa]]. She completed her education in the [[United States]], where she studied at [[Madison Business College]], the [[University of Colorado Boulder]], and [[Harvard University]]. She returned to Liberia to work in [[William Tolbert]]'s government as Deputy [[Ministry of Finance (Liberia)|Minister of Finance]] from 1971 to 1974. Later, she worked again in the West, for the [[World Bank]] in the [[Caribbean]] and [[Latin America]]. In 1979, she received a cabinet appointment as Minister of Finance, serving to 1980.

After [[Samuel Doe]] seized power in 1980 in [[1980 Liberian coup d'état|a coup d'état]] and executed Tolbert, Sirleaf fled to the [[United States]]. She worked for [[Citibank]] and then the Equator Bank. She returned to [[Liberia]] to contest a senatorial seat for [[Montserrado County]] in 1985, an election that was disputed. She was arrested as a result of her open criticism of the military government in 1985 and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, although she was later released.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf {{!}} Biography, Nobel Peace Prize, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> Sirleaf continued to be involved in politics. She finished in second place at the [[1997 Liberian presidential election|1997 presidential election]], which was won by [[Charles Taylor (Liberian politician)|Charles Taylor]].

She won the [[2005 Liberian general election|2005 presidential election]] and took office on 16 January 2006. She was [[2011 Liberian general election|re-elected in 2011]]. She was the first woman in Africa elected as president of her country.  She won the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 2011, in recognition of her efforts to bring women into the peacekeeping process. She has received numerous other awards for her leadership. In June 2016, Sirleaf was elected as the Chair of the [[Economic Community of West African States]], making her the first woman to hold the position since it was created.<ref name="GhanaStar">{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanastar.com/africa-news/liberias-president-sirleaf-elected-new-ecowas-chair/ |title=Liberia's President Ellen Sirleaf, Becomes First Female ECOWAS Chair |publisher=GhanaStar.com |date=5 June 2016|access-date=5 June 2016}}</ref>

==Family background==
Sirleaf's father was [[Gola people|Gola]] and her mother had mixed [[Kru people|Kru]] and [[Germany|German]] ancestry.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200512110034.html |first=Reed |last=Kramer |title=Liberia: Showered With Enthusiasm, Liberia's President-Elect Receives High-Level Reception in Washington |work=All Africa.com |date=11 December 2005 |access-date=15 December 2005}}</ref><ref name=brit>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/110053359600/Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf |title=Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=14 December 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theelders.org/|title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf|website=theelders.org}}</ref>

While not in fact [[Americo-Liberian]] in terms of ancestry, because of her parents' upbringing and her own education in the West, Sirleaf is considered to be culturally Americo-Liberian, or assumed to be Americo-Liberian. Her parents both grew up in Monrovia, a center of Americo-Liberian influence, after being born in poor rural areas.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theliberiandialogue.org/articles/c092805tws.htm |title=Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf finally confesses to funding Liberian civil war |first=Tleh |last=Kofa |work=The Liberian Dialogue |date=28 September 2005 |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609153320/http://www.theliberiandialogue.org/articles/c092805tws.htm |archive-date=9 June 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/liberia/sirleaf.html |title=Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf: Liberia's 'Iron Lady' |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=28 March 2006 |access-date=3 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826061038/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/liberia/sirleaf.html |archive-date=26 August 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Anna |last=Koblanck |url=http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2518/context/archive |title=Liberian Becomes Africa's First Elected Female Prez |work=[[Women's eNews]] |date=4 November 2005 |access-date=13 April 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112173743/http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2518/context/archive |archive-date=12 November 2005 |df=dmy }}</ref> Sirleaf does not identify as such.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alistair |last=Bobby-Evans |url=http://africanhistory.about.com/od/liberia/p/Sirleaf.htm |title=Biography: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia's 'Iron Lady' |work=[[About.com]] |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-date=16 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016171629/http://africanhistory.about.com/od/liberia/p/Sirleaf.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sirleaf's father, Jahmale Carney Johnson, was born into a Gola family in an [[rural poverty|impoverished rural region]].<ref name=harv /> He was the son of a minor Gola chief named Jahmale Carney and one of his wives, Jenneh, in Julijuah, [[Bomi County]].<ref name=lib>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/JohnsonSirleaf/TribalRoots.htm |title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's tribal roots and Americo Liberian background |work=Liberia Past And Present |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107043808/http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/JohnsonSirleaf/TribalRoots.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her father was sent to [[Monrovia]] for education, where he changed his surname to Johnson due to her father's loyalty to President [[Hilary R. W. Johnson]], Liberia's first native-born president.<ref name=lib/> Jahmale Johnson grew up in Monrovia, where he was raised by an [[Americo-Liberian]] family with the surname McCritty.<ref name=lib/> He later entered politics; he was the first Liberian from an indigenous ethnic group to be elected to the country's national legislature.<ref name=brit/><ref name=harv/>

Sirleaf's mother was also born into poverty, in [[Greenville, Liberia|Greenville]].<ref name=lib/> Her grandmother, Juah Sarwee, sent Sirleaf's mother to the capital, Monrovia, when her German husband (Sirleaf's grandfather) had to flee the country after Liberia declared war on [[German Empire|Germany]] during [[World War I]].<ref name=harv/> Cecilia Dunbar, a member of a prominent Americo-Liberian family in the capital, adopted and raised Sirleaf's mother.<ref name=lib/>

==Early life and career==
Sirleaf was born in [[Monrovia]] in 1938.<ref name=harv>"Ellen!". [[Harvard Kennedy School]] of [[Harvard University]]. Spring 2006.</ref> She attended the [[College of West Africa]], a preparatory school, from 1948 to 1955. She married James Sirleaf when she was seventeen years old. The couple had four sons together, and she was primarily occupied as a [[homemaker]]. Early on in their marriage, James worked for the Department of Agriculture, and Sirleaf worked as a bookkeeper for an auto-repair shop.<ref name=AA />

She traveled with her husband to the United States in 1961 to continue her education and earned an associate degree in Accounting at [[Madison Business College]], in [[Madison, Wisconsin]].<ref name="bergner">{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Bergner |title=An Uncompromising Woman |work=[[New York Times Magazine]] |date=22 October 2010}}</ref> When they returned to [[Liberia]], James continued his work in the Agriculture Department and Sirleaf pursued a career in the Treasury Department (Ministry of Finance).<ref name=AA /> They divorced in 1961 because of James' abuse.<ref name=brit /><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/african-history-biographies/ellen-johnson-sirleaf|title=Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com }}</ref><ref name=AA>{{cite web|title= Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Biography and Interview |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://www.achievement.org/achiever/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/#interview}}</ref>

Sirleaf returned to college to finish her bachelor's degree. In 1970, she earned a BA in [[economics]] from the Economics Institute of the [[University of Colorado Boulder]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.colorado.edu/artsandsciences/economics|title=Economics|work=CU Boulder website|access-date=4 January 2019}}</ref> where she also spent a summer preparing for graduate studies. Sirleaf studied economics and public policy at [[Harvard Kennedy School]] from 1969 to 1971, earning a [[Master of Public Administration]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The voice of reform |work=Harvard Gazette |date=10 March 2011|url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/03/the-voice-of-reform/}}</ref> She returned to her native Liberia to work in the administration of [[William Tolbert]], where she was appointed as Assistant Minister of Finance. Whilst in that position, she attracted attention with a "bombshell" speech to the Liberian Chamber of Commerce that claimed that the country's corporations were harming the economy by hoarding or sending their profits overseas.<ref>Robinson, Jack. "Mrs. Sirleaf on 'Stimulating the Economy'", ''Liberian Age'', 29 June 1973, pp. 1–2.</ref>

Sirleaf served as Assistant Minister from 1972 to 1973 in the Tolbert administration. She resigned after a disagreement about government spending. Subsequently, she was appointed as Minister of Finance a few years later, serving from 1979 to April 1980.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/221491/|title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: First female African president|last=Agaba|first=Dennis|work=The New Times Rwanda|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>

Master Sergeant [[Samuel Doe]], a member of the indigenous [[Krahn]] ethnic group, seized power in a [[military coup]] on 12 April 1980; he ordered the assassination of Tolbert and execution by firing squad of all but four members of his Cabinet. The [[People's Redemption Council]] took control of the country and led a purge against the previous government. Sirleaf initially accepted a post in the new government as the President of the [[Liberian Bank for Development and Investment]]. She fled the country in November 1980 after publicly criticising Doe and the People's Redemption Council for their management of the country.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sherman |first=Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lstRzSWEcUC&dq=She+fled+the+country+in+November+1980+after+publicly+criticising+Doe+and+the+People's+Redemption+Council+for+their+management+of+the+country+ellen+johnson&pg=PA198 |title=Liberia: The Land, Its People, History and Culture |date=2010-01-31 |publisher=New Africa Press |isbn=978-9987-16-025-9 |language=en}}</ref>

Sirleaf initially moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the [[World Bank]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/when-the-world-bank-came-to-ellen-johnson-sirleafs-rescue/2017/03/17/e77f2f34-08f3-11e7-bd19-fd3afa0f7e2a_story.html|title=Opinion {{!}} When the World Bank came to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's rescue|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref> In 1981, she moved to [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]] to serve as Vice President of the African Regional Office of [[Citibank]]. She resigned from Citibank in 1985 following her involvement at the [[1985 Liberian general election|1985 general election]] in Liberia.<!-- In what way? --> She went to work for Equator Bank,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://harvardafricaalumni.com/project/president-ellen-johnson-sirleaf/|title=President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf {{!}} Harvard Africa Alumni Action Forum|website=harvardafricaalumni.com|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref> a subsidiary of [[HSBC]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In 1992, Sirleaf was appointed as the director of the [[United Nations Development Programme]]'s Regional Bureau for Africa at the rank of assistant administrator and assistant secretary general (ASG). She is internationally known as Africa's Iron Lady, due to her political prowess.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2011|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2011/johnson_sirleaf/biographical/|access-date=2021-05-20|website=NobelPrize.org|language=en-US}}</ref>  She resigned from this role in 1997 in order to run for the presidency of Liberia. During her time at the UN, she was one of the seven internationally eminent persons designated in 1999 by the [[Organization of African Unity]] to investigate the [[Rwandan genocide]], one of the five Commission Chairs for the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, and one of the two international experts selected by [[UNIFEM]] to investigate and report on the effect of conflict on women and women's roles in peace building. She was the initial Chairperson of the [[Open Society Initiative for West Africa]] (OSIWA) and a visiting Professor of Governance at the [[Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration]] (GIMPA).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=80SvCmSTxGoC&dq=She+went+to+work+for+Equator+Bank,+a+subsidiary+of+HSBC.+ellen+johnson&pg=PA45 |title=African Leaders |publisher=Bankole Kamara Taylor |language=en}}</ref>

==Political career==

===1985 general election===

While working at Citibank, Sirleaf returned to Liberia in 1985 to run for [[Vice President of Liberia|Vice President]] under [[Jackson Doe]] on the ticket of the [[Liberian Action Party]] in the [[1985 Liberian general election|1985 elections]]. However, Sirleaf was placed under [[house arrest]] in August 1985 and soon after sentenced to ten years in prison for [[sedition]], as a consequence of a speech in which she insulted the members of the [[Samuel Doe]] regime. Following international calls for her release, Samuel Doe pardoned and released her in September. Due to government pressure, she was removed from the presidential ticket and instead ran for a [[Senate of Liberia|Senate]] seat in [[Montserrado County]].

In the 1985 elections, Samuel Doe and the [[National Democratic Party of Liberia|National Democratic Party]] won the presidency and large majorities in both houses. The elections were widely condemned as neither free nor fair. Sirleaf was declared the winner of her Senate race, but she refused to accept the seat in protest of the election fraud.

After an attempted coup against the Doe government by [[Thomas Quiwonkpa]] on 12 November 1985, Sirleaf was arrested and imprisoned again on 13 November by Doe's forces. Despite continuing to refuse to accept her seat in the Senate, she was released in July 1986. She secretly fled the country to the United States later that year.<ref name=Leaders>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k2nxqV2R7_8C&q=sirleaf+exile+in+abidjan&pg=PA221|title=Prominent African Leaders Since Independence|last=Kasuka|first=Bridgette|date=2013|publisher=New Africa Press|isbn=9789987160266}}</ref>

===1997 presidential campaign===
[[File:Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf 2005.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Sirleaf campaigning in Monrovia in 2005, shortly before she was elected]]

At the beginning of the [[First Liberian Civil War]] in 1989, Sirleaf supported [[Charles Taylor (Liberia)|Charles Taylor]]'s rebellion against Doe. She helped raise money for the war and founded the [[National Patriotic Front of Liberia]] with Taylor and [[Tom Woewiyu]]. Because of this, Doe's government <!-- or who? -->recommended that Sirleaf be banned from politics in Liberia for 30 years.

But, she later opposed Taylor's handling of the war and his treatment of rival opposition leaders such as [[Jackson Doe]]. By 1996, the presence of [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) peacekeepers led to a cessation of hostilities. The nation held the [[1997 Liberian general election|1997 general election]], which Sirleaf returned to Liberia to contest. She ran as the presidential candidate for the [[Unity Party (Liberia)|Unity Party]] and placed second in a controversial election, getting just under 10% of the vote to Charles Taylor's 75%, with the remaining 15% going to other candidates. After controversy about the results and being accused of treason, Sirleaf left Liberia and went into exile in [[Abidjan]], Ivory Coast.<ref name=Leaders />

===2005 presidential campaign===

After the end of the [[Second Liberian Civil War]] and the establishment of a transitional government, Sirleaf was proposed as a possible candidate for chairman of the government. Ultimately, [[Gyude Bryant]], a political neutral, was chosen as chairman, while Sirleaf served as head of the Governance Reform Commission.

Sirleaf stood for president as the candidate of the [[Unity Party (Liberia)|Unity Party]] in the [[2005 Liberian general election|2005 general election]]. She placed second in the first round of voting behind  [[George Weah]], a former [[association football|footballer]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf|title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf {{!}} Biography, Nobel Peace Prize, & Facts|work=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref> In the subsequent run-off election, Sirleaf earned 59% of the vote versus 40% for Weah, though Weah disputed the results.

The announcement of the new leader was postponed until further election investigations were carried out. On 23 November 2005, Sirleaf was declared the winner of the Liberian election and confirmed as the country's next president and the first woman to be elected as president of an African country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/23/davidfickling?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|title=Johnson-Sirleaf declared Liberian president|last=Fickling|first=David|date=23 November 2005|work=The Guardian |access-date=22 November 2011|location=London}}</ref> Her inauguration took place on 16 January 2006. It was attended by many foreign dignitaries, including [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Condoleezza Rice]] and [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Laura Bush]].

===2011 presidential campaign===
[[File:Tawakkul Karman Leymah Gbowee Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Nobel Peace Prize 2011 Harry Wad.jpg|thumb|350px|From left to right: [[Tawakkul Karman]], [[Leymah Gbowee]], and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf display their awards during the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize, 10 December 2011.]]
In January 2010, Sirleaf announced that she would run for a second term in office in the [[2011 Liberian general election|2011 presidential election]] while speaking to a joint session of the legislature.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8480344.stm|title=Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to stand again|access-date=10 October 2012|date=26 January 2010|work=[[BBC News]]  }}</ref> Opposition leaders noted that in doing so, she had broken a promise made during her 2005 campaign to only serve one term if elected.<ref>{{cite web | first=Joshua E. | last=Keating | url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/08/19/the_men_who_would_be_queen | title=The Men Who Would Be Queen | work=[[Foreign Policy]] | date=19 August 2011 | access-date=10 October 2012 | archive-date=24 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024072818/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/08/19/the_men_who_would_be_queen | url-status=dead }}</ref> Sirleaf was renominated as the Unity Party's presidential candidate at the party's national convention on 31 October 2010.<ref name=Secterm>{{cite news|first=Varney|last=Kamara|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201011010544.html|title=Sirleaf, Boakai Get Sec-Term Mandate|access-date=10 October 2012|date=1 November 2010|work=[[allAfrica.com]]}}</ref> That same day, Vice President [[Joseph Boakai]] was nominated by Sirleaf and confirmed by the delegates as Sirleaf's running mate.<ref name=Secterm/>

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Sirleaf four days prior to the election sparked criticism from opposition parties, with [[Congress for Democratic Change]] candidate [[Winston Tubman]] calling the award "undeserved" and "a political interference in our country's politics."<ref>{{cite news | first=Tamasin | last=Ford | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/09/ellen-johnson-siraf-nobel-liberia?newsfeed=true | title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf faces a tough presidential election in Liberia |work=The Guardian  | date=9 October 2011 | access-date=10 October 2012 | location=London}}</ref> Sirleaf called the timing of the award a coincidence and avoided mentioning the award during the final days of campaigning.<ref>{{cite news | first=Adam | last=Nossiter | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/world/africa/on-the-campaign-trail-liberias-sirleaf-plays-down-nobel-win.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=liberia%20sirleaf%20election&st=cse | title=Nobel Winner Doesn't Want to Talk About It on the Campaign Trail | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=9 October 2011 | access-date=10 October 2012}}</ref>

Sirleaf garnered 43.9% of the vote in the first round, more than any other candidate but short of the 50% needed to avoid a run-off. Tubman came in second with 32.7%, pitting him against Sirleaf in the second round.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-africa-15609008 | title=Sirleaf urges Liberians to vote despite Tubman boycott |work=BBC News| date=5 November 2011 | access-date=10 October 2012}}</ref> Tubman called for a boycott of the run-off, claiming that the results of the first round had been fraudulent.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15602130 | title=Liberia election: Tubman to boycott run-off |work=BBC News| date=4 November 2011 | access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref> Sirleaf denied the allegations, and international observers reported that the first round election had been free, fair and transparent.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/111108/polls-open-liberia-runoff | title=Polls open for Liberian run-off vote | work=Global Post | date=8 November 2011 | access-date=22 November 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122204928/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/111108/polls-open-liberia-runoff | archive-date=22 November 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> As a result of the boycott, Sirleaf won the second round with 90.7% of the vote, though voter turnout significantly declined from the first round.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/liberias-sirleaf-appoints-nun-probe-poll-violence-135104473.html |title=Liberia's Sirleaf appoints nun to probe poll violence |agency=Agence France-Presse |work=Yahoo! News |date=15 November 2011 |access-date=22 November 2011 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Following the election, Sirleaf announced the creation of a "national peace and reconciliation initiative," led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate [[Leymah Gbowee]], to address the country's divisions and begin "a national dialogue that would bring us together."<ref name=allow>{{cite web | first=Ellen | last=Johnson Sirleaf | url=http://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1785:allow-legal-process-to-run-course-sirleaf-on-closure-of-media-institutions&catid=42:politics&Itemid=109 | title=Allow Legal Process to Run Course: Sirleaf on Closure of Media Institutions | work=Executive Mansion | publisher=FrontPageAfrica | date=11 November 2011 | access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> She took the presidential oath for her second presidency on 16 January 2012.<ref>{{cite news | first=Adolphus | last=Mawolo | url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jEVWZm2z3vK4M6Buk3SAejnFr6og?docId=CNG.f4017fd8fc0fc29b1e449bac606e4e13.201 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911142216/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jEVWZm2z3vK4M6Buk3SAejnFr6og?docId=CNG.f4017fd8fc0fc29b1e449bac606e4e13.201 | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 September 2012 | title= Liberia's Sirleaf takes presidential oath |agency=Agence France-Presse | publisher=AFP / Google | date=16 January 2012 | access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref>

=== 2017 presidential campaign ===
Sirleaf crossed party lines to support [[George Weah]] in the 2017 presidential campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42681795|title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Liberia's president expelled from her party|work=BBC News|date=14 January 2018|access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref>  In the late evening hours of 13 January 2018, she along with some officials of the [[Unity Party (Liberia)|Unity Party]] were expelled<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/6616-liberia-s-outgoing-ruling-party-expels-president-sirleaf|title=FPA - Liberia's Outgoing Ruling Party Expels President Sirleaf|last=Reporter|first=FPA|website=www.frontpageafricaonline.com|access-date=2018-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114040115/http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/6616-liberia-s-outgoing-ruling-party-expels-president-sirleaf|archive-date=14 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> by the National Executive Committee of the party, for failing to support Unity Party presidential candidate, and Sirleaf's Vice President,  [[Joseph Boakai]].

==Presidency==

===Domestic policy===
[[File:Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf3.jpg|thumb|right|Sirleaf at her inauguration in Monrovia]]

A fire broke out at the Executive Mansion on 26 July 2006, seriously damaging the structure. An independent panel formed to investigate the incident ruled out arson, attributing the fire to an electrical malfunction.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-09-04-voa23/328141.html | title = In Liberia, Report on Executive Mansion Fire Rules Out Arson | publisher=[[Voice of America]] | date = 4 September 2006}}</ref> Sirleaf's government called funding for the repair of the mansion a low priority in the face of more pressing needs, with Sirleaf transferring her office to the nearby Foreign Ministry building and choosing to live at her personal home in Monrovia.<ref>{{cite news | first = Nathaniel | last = Daygbor | url = http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1552:mansions-renovation-not-priority&catid=25:politics&Itemid=59 | title = Mansion's Renovation Not Priority | newspaper=The New Dawn | date = 20 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Glenna|last=Gordon|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090818/liberias-squatters-monrovia|title=Inside Liberia's Other Executive Mansion|newspaper=[[GlobalPost]]|date=19 August 2009}}</ref>

On 26 July 2007, Sirleaf celebrated Liberia's 160th Independence Day under the theme "Liberia at 160: Reclaiming the future." She took an unprecedented and symbolic move by asking 25-year-old Liberian activist [[Kimmie Weeks]] to serve as National Orator for the celebrations, where Weeks called for the government to prioritize education and health care. A few days later, President Sirleaf issued an Executive Order making education free and compulsory for all elementary school aged children.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=80SvCmSTxGoC&q=On+26+July+2007%2C+Sirleaf+celebrated+Liberia%27s+160th+independence+anniversary&pg=PA49|title=African Leaders|publisher=Bankole Kamara Taylor}}</ref>

On 4 October 2010, Sirleaf signed into law a [[Freedom of information legislation|Freedom of Information bill]], the first legislation of its kind in West Africa.<ref>[http://www.freedominfo.org/2010/10/liberian-president-sirleaf-signs-foi-law-regional-first/  "Liberian President Sirleaf Signs FOI Law; Regional First"], freedominfo.org, 5 October 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201010070050.html | title = Liberia: President Signs Freedom of Information Law | newspaper=[[allAfrica.com]] | date = 6 October 2010}}</ref> In recognition of this, she became the first sitting head of state to receive the Friend of the Media in Africa Award from The African Editor's Union.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201010200893.html | title = Sirleaf Sets Continental Record | work=allAfrica.com | date = 20 October 2010}}</ref>

On 1 April 2011, Sirleaf told reporters that she planned to charge an opposition candidate with [[sedition]] for organizing a rally protesting corruption in the government. Her press secretary later clarified that the remark had been an [[April Fools' Day|April Fools' prank]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newdemocratnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=592:the-presidents-april-fool&catid=47:national&Itemid=70 |title = The President's 'April Fool' |  work=New Democrat | date = 5 April 2011}}</ref>

====Debt relief====

From the beginning of her presidency, Sirleaf vowed to make reduction of the [[national debt]], which stood at approximately US$4.9&nbsp;billion in 2006, a top priority for her administration. The United States became the first country to grant debt relief to Liberia, waiving the full $391&nbsp;million owed to it by Liberia in early 2007.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200702160283.html |title = Liberia: Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf Returns Triumphantly | newspaper=Africa News | date = 16 February 2007}}</ref> In September of that year, the [[G8|G-8]] headed by German [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]] provided $324.5&nbsp;million to paying off 60% of Liberia's debt to the [[International Monetary Fund]], crediting their decision to the macroeconomic policies pursued by the Sirleaf administration.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200709250326.html |title = Liberia: G-8 Rallies for Country's Debts | newspaper=Africa News | date = 24 September 2007}}</ref>

In April 2009, the government successfully wrote off an additional $1.2&nbsp;billion in foreign [[debt|commercial debt]] in a deal that saw the government buy back the debt at a 97% discounted rate through financing provided by the [[International Development Association]], Germany, [[Norway]], the United States, and the United Kingdom.<ref name=Slash>{{cite press release|url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1143 |title=Liberia Slashes USD$1.2&nbsp;Billion Commercial Debt |publisher=The Executive Mansion |location=Monrovia |date=16 April 2009 |access-date=14 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722152057/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1143 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> The discounted rate was the largest ever for a developing country.<ref name=Slash/>

The country was deemed eligible to participate in the [[Heavily Indebted Poor Countries]] initiative in 2008.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE61F0G020100216 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120118214801/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE61F0G020100216 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 18 January 2012 | title = Liberia on track for HIPC debt relief this year: IMF | agency=Reuters Africa | date = 16 February 2010 |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> In June 2010, the country reached the completion point of the HIPC initiative, qualifying it for relief from its entire external debt.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/6692 | first=George | last=Kennedy | title=Liberia Reaches HIPC Completion Point | newspaper=The Liberian Observer | date=2 June 2010 | access-date=10 October 2010 | archive-date=5 June 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605033609/http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/6692 | url-status=dead }}</ref> That same month, the World Bank and IMF agreed to fund $1.5&nbsp;billion in writing off the Liberia's multilateral debt.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201006291216.html | title = Liberia: IMF and World Bank Announce U.S.$4.6&nbsp;Billion Debt Relief | newspaper=AllAfrica.com | date = 29 June 2010}}</ref> On 16 September, the [[Paris Club]] agreed to cancel $1.26&nbsp;billion, with independent bilateral creditors canceling an additional $107&nbsp;million, essentially writing off Liberia's remaining external debt.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201009170015.html | title = Liberia: Paris Club Clears More Than U.S.$1&nbsp;Billion Debt Liberia Owes Its Creditors | newspaper=AllAfrica.com | date = 16 September 2010}}</ref> Sirleaf vowed to prevent unsustainable borrowing in the future by restricting annual borrowing to 3% of GDP and limiting expenditure of all borrowed funds to one-off infrastructure projects.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE66I0CW20100719 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120120182915/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE66I0CW20100719 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 20 January 2012 | first=Alphonso |last=Toweh |title = Liberia ready to borrow again: finance minister | agency=Reuters Africa | date = 19 July 2010}}</ref>

====Truth and Reconciliation Commission====
[[File:Ellen Johnson Sirleaf gc2008.jpg|thumb|200px|left|President Sirleaf addressing the 2008 General Conference of the [[United Methodist Church]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas]]]]

In 2006, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began work with a mandate to "promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation" by investigating more than 20 years of civil conflict in the country. The TRC was formed through a legislation in 2005 under the Interim government headed by C. Gyude Bryant.

In their final report, issued in June 2009, the TRC included Sirleaf in a list of 50 names of people that should be "specifically barred from holding public offices; elected or appointed for a period of thirty (30) years" for "being associated with former warring factions."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5joAaW2DuzNDfyi8t7h4X594XcHCg |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110312131332/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5joAaW2DuzNDfyi8t7h4X594XcHCg |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2011 |title=Sirleaf should be banned from office: Liberia truth commission |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=6 July 2009 |access-date=9 October 2012}}</ref> The proposed ban stemmed from her financial support of former President Taylor in the early years of the First Liberian Civil War.

On 26 July 2009, Sirleaf apologized to Liberia for supporting Charles Taylor, saying: "When the true nature of Mr. Taylor's intentions became known, there was no more impassioned critic or strong opponent to him in a democratic process" than she.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Gettleman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/world/africa/14diplo.html|title=Clinton Supports President of Liberia |work=The New York Times |date=13 August 2009}}</ref> On 28 August, the legislature announced they must "consult our constituents for about a year" before deciding whether or not to implement the Commission's recommendations.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ansu |last=Konneh |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aIqClsvAY9T0 |title=Liberian Parliament Delay Action on Truth Commission Findings |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=28 August 2010}}</ref>

During an appearance at the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] in 2010, Sirleaf argued that the implementation of the TRC's recommended ban would unconstitutionally violate her right to [[due process]].<ref name=CFR>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/22222/conversation_with_ellen_johnson_sirleaf_president_republic_of_liberia.html |title=A Conversation with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President, Republic of Liberia |date=25 May 2010 |publisher=[[Council on Foreign Relations]] |access-date=30 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019055745/http://www.cfr.org/publication/22222/conversation_with_ellen_johnson_sirleaf_president_republic_of_liberia.html |archive-date=19 October 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In October 2010, the chairman of Sirleaf's Unity Party, [[Varney Sherman]], argued that 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 by financially supporting Taylor that imposed a ban from public office as a penalty.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rodney |last=Sieh |url=http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11600&z=2 |title=Interview: Varney Sherman on New UP Pickups Saga; Re-Electing Ellen |date=7 October 2010 |work=FrontPageAfrica |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005230422/http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11600&z=2 |archive-date=5 October 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In January 2011, the [[Supreme Court of Liberia|Supreme Court]] ruled in ''Williams v. Tah'', a case brought by another person recommended for being banned from public office in the TRC report, that the TRC's recommendation was an unconstitutional violation of the listed individuals' right to [[procedural due process]], and that it would be unconstitutional for the government to implement the proposed bans.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.netnewspublisher.com/liberian-supreme-court-squashes-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-ban-on-politicians/ | title = Liberian Supreme Court Squashes Truth And Reconciliation Commission Ban on Politicians | newspaper = NetNewsPublisher | date = 24 January 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721161151/http://www.netnewspublisher.com/liberian-supreme-court-squashes-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-ban-on-politicians/ | archive-date = 21 July 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

====Gay rights====

Following a speech made by [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] in December 2011 that America's foreign aid would be used to promote the protection of gay rights,<ref name="Guardian - homosexuality">{{cite news | first1=Tamasin | last1=Ford | first2=Bonnie | last2=Allen | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/19/nobel-peace-prize-law-homosexuality | title=Nobel peace prize winner defends law criminalising homosexuality in Liberia | newspaper=The Guardian | date=19 March 2012 | access-date=9 October 2012 | location=London}}</ref> the issue of [[LGBT rights in Liberia|LGBT rights]] became a significant political topic in Liberia. According to ''[[Guardian (newspaper)|The Guardian]]'', "Since Clinton's remarks, Liberian newspapers have published numerous articles and editorials describing homosexuality as 'desecrating', 'abusive' and an 'abomination'."<ref name="Guardian - homosexuality"/> Liberian law made "[[Sodomy|voluntary sodomy]]" punishable by up to one year in prison, although it has not been used to prosecute anyone in several years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154354.htm | title=2010 Human Rights Report: Liberia | work=United States Department of State | date=8 April 2011 | access-date=9 October 2012}}</ref>

In February 2012, [[Bong County]] Senator [[Jewel Taylor]] proposed a bill that would carry a term of ten years in prison for homosexual activity, while a similar bill was introduced in the [[House of Representatives of Liberia|House of Representatives]].<ref name="Guardian - homosexuality"/> On 19 March, Sirleaf addressed the issue, saying that she would not repeal the current law but would also not sign into law either of the two proposed bills. Sirleaf added, "We like ourselves just the way we are [...] We've got certain traditional values in our society that we would like to preserve."<ref name="Guardian - homosexuality"/> According to Tiawan Gongloe, Liberia's former Solicitor General, "If she tried to decriminalise the [current anti-gay] law it would be political suicide."<ref name="Guardian - homosexuality"/>

In a letter to ''The Guardian,'' Sirleaf's press secretary challenged the portrayal of her remarks in the media saying that:  "There currently exists no law referencing homosexuality in Liberia, and as such the President could not be defending a law on homosexuality. The President is on record as saying [...] that any law brought before her regarding homosexuality will be vetoed. This statement also applies to an initial attempt by two members of the Liberian legislature to introduce tougher laws targeting homosexuality." The letter added "the status quo in Liberia has been one of tolerance and no one has ever been prosecuted under that [current] law," and went on to hint at future possible liberalization stating that "the President thinks that with the unprecedented freedom of speech and expression Liberia enjoys today, our budding democracy will be strong enough to accommodate new ideas and debate both their value and Liberia's laws with openness, respect and independence."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/23/liberian-sex-laws-sirleaf | title=Letters: Liberia sex laws | work=The Guardian | date=22 March 2012 | access-date=24 March 2012 | location=London}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' published a correction to its story: "'Nobel peace prize winner defends law criminalising homosexuality in Liberia' was updated to restore material cut in the editing process. The restored material clarifies the stance that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is taking on laws concerning homosexuality in Liberia. That is: she refuses to dismantle the existing anti-sodomy law, while also saying she will refuse to sign two new bills that would toughen laws on homosexuality." The comments, letter, and clarification suggest that she considered the ''status quo'' for gay rights in Liberia to be one of ''de facto'' tolerance until the recent controversy, and did not support decriminalization of homosexuality, but also refused to support further criminalisation of homosexual acts which was being attempted in Liberia. She reaffirmed this view during an interview with Tony Blair.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2012/mar/19/liberia-tony-blair-anti-gay-law-video | title=Liberia's president and Tony Blair discuss anti-gay law&nbsp;– video | work=The Guardian | date=19 March 2012 | access-date=9 October 2012 | author=Tamasin Ford & Bonnie Allen | location=London}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
[[File:Secretary Clinton Meets With Liberian President Sirleaf (8385853099).jpg|thumb|Sirleaf with U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]], Washington, D.C., 2013]]
Upon her election to office, Sirleaf made her first foreign trip as President to neighboring [[Ivory Coast]], meeting with Ivorian President [[Laurent Gbagbo]] in an attempt to repair relations between the two countries following Côte d'Ivoire's support of the [[Movement for Democracy in Liberia]] during the [[Second Liberian Civil War]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-115724878.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512211152/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-115724878.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 May 2013 |title = Liberia's president-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Ivory Coast on first foreign trip | newspaper=[[Associated Press|AP]] Worldstream | date = 29 November 2005}}</ref> During the [[2010–2011 Ivorian crisis]], Sirleaf, as chairperson of the [[Mano River Union]], supported ECOWAS's recognition of Gbagbo's opponent, [[Alassane Ouattara]], as the winner of the [[2010 Ivorian presidential election|disputed presidential election]], but rejected calls for a military solution to the crisis.<ref>{{cite news|first=D Kaihenneh |last=Sengbeh |url=http://www.1847post.com/article/mru-opposes-force-ecowas-c%C3%B4te-ivoire |title=MRU Opposes Force by Ecowas in Côte Ivoire |newspaper=The 1847 Post |date=24 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902205504/http://www.1847post.com/article/mru-opposes-force-ecowas-c%C3%B4te-ivoire |archive-date=2 September 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Sirleaf also forged close relations with the United States, Liberia's traditional ally. Following the establishment of [[United States Africa Command]] (AFRICOM) by the [[United States military]], Sirleaf offered to allow the US to headquarter the new command in Liberia, the only African leader to do so.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.emergingminds.org/Liberian-President-disappointed-over-U.S.-decision-on-AFRICOM.html |title=Liberian President disappointed over U.S. decision on AFRICOM |work=Emerging Minds |date=24 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726030132/http://www.emergingminds.org/Liberian-President-disappointed-over-U.S.-decision-on-AFRICOM.html |archive-date=26 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> The command was eventually headquartered in [[Stuttgart]], Germany. On 15 March 2006, President Sirleaf addressed a joint meeting of the [[United States Congress]], asking for American support to help her country "become a brilliant beacon, an example to Africa and the world of what love of liberty can achieve."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200603150786.html |title=Liberia: President Sirleaf Thanks U.S. Congress, Asks for Continuing Support |work=allAfrica.com |date=15 March 2006}}</ref>

Sirleaf has also strengthened relations with the People's Republic of [[China]], reaffirming Liberia's commitment to the [[One-China policy]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Janjay |last=Campbell |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200710010699.html |title = Liberia: Ellen Renews "One China" Commitment | newspaper=allAfrica.com | date = 1 October 2007}}</ref> In return, China has contributed to Liberia's reconstruction, building several transmitters to extend the [[Liberia Broadcasting System]] nationwide and constructing a new campus for the [[University of Liberia]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://lr.china-embassy.org/eng/sghdhzxxx/t522906.htm | title = Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Attends the Hand-over Ceremony of China-aided LBS Rehabilitation and Expansion Project and the Launching of CRI FM Programs in Liberia | publisher=Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Liberia | date = 19 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://lr.china-embassy.org/eng/dszc/spta/t718568.htm | title = Remarks at the Handover Ceremony of the China-aided Fendall Campus of the University of Liberia  | publisher=Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Liberia | date = 20 July 2010}}</ref>

Sirleaf is a member of the [[Council of Women World Leaders]], an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Council_of_Women_World_Leaders_Biographies.pdf|title=Council of Women World Leaders Biographies|website=wilsoncenter.org|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228094355/https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Council_of_Women_World_Leaders_Biographies.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the [[2011 Libyan civil war]], Sirleaf added her voice to the international community who asked the previous Libyan leader [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]] to cease the use of violence and tactics of political repression.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gnnliberia.com/2016/10/28/gnn-personality-week-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-turns-78-years-tomorrow-saturday/|title=GNN Personality of the Week: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf As She Turns 78 Years Tomorrow Saturday|author-first1=Joel Cholo|author-last1=Brooks|website=GNN Liberia|date=28 October 2016|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113222051/http://gnnliberia.com/2016/10/28/gnn-personality-week-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-turns-78-years-tomorrow-saturday/|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, she criticized the [[2011 military intervention in Libya|international military intervention]] in Libya, declaring that "violence does not help the process whichever way it comes".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afriqueavenir.org/en/2011/03/29/president-sirleaf-against-air-strikes-in-libya/|agency=Afrique Avenir|date=29 March 2011|access-date=5 April 2011|title=President Sirleaf against air strikes in Libya}}</ref> Her government later severed diplomatic ties with Libya, stating that "The Government took the decision after a careful review of the situation in Libya and determined that the Government of Colonel Gaddafi has lost the legitimacy to govern Libya."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE75D0KR20110614|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615113854/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE75D0KR20110614|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2011|title=Liberia cuts ties with Gaddafi's Libya|newspaper=[[Reuters]] Africa|date=14 June 2011}}</ref>

On 27 February 2015, President Sirleaf was expected to make a visit to U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] at the [[White House]] in Washington, D.C., according to an official online statement from the Office of the [[White House Press Secretary]]. Among other issues, they planned to discuss the hope to expeditiously close the recent 2013–2015 [[Ebola virus epidemic]], which heavily affected [[Liberia]], [[Sierra Leone]], and [[Guinea]], and other areas in West Africa (and beyond in other countries due to importation of cases for treatment and some new infections), down to an ideal of zero reported cases in Liberia and nearby areas in the near future, with continuing monitoring and reporting, care, support, and fiscal and professional assistance. They also planned to discuss how to sustain and rebuild the healthcare infrastructure and the country's other difficulties in the wake of the massive outbreak's morbidity and mortality toll and impact on the area, as well as review progress that had been made and efforts to continue it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/20/statement-press-secretary-visit-liberian-president-ellen-johnson-sirleaf|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|date=20 February 2015}}</ref>

===Administration and Cabinet===
{{BLP sources section|date=November 2018}}<!--lists of Cabinet members are not cited-->
Following her victory in the 2005 election, Sirleaf pledged to promote national reconciliation by bringing in opposition leaders into her administration.<ref name=profile>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4395978.stm|title=Profile: Liberia's 'Iron Lady'|work=BBC News|date=23 November 2005}}</ref> Opposition politicians who joined her initial administration included Minister of Transport Jeremiah Sulunteh, Minister of Education [[Joseph Korto]], and Ambassador to the United Nations [[Nathaniel Barnes]]. Sirleaf also appointed several women to high-level posts in her administration, with female ministers initially leading the Ministries of Finance, Law, Commerce and Industry, Gender and Development, and Youth and Sports.<ref name=appoint>{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=58143|title=Sirleaf starts to form government, some appointments spark protest|work=IRIN Africa|date=14 February 2006}}</ref> Sirleaf said that while she had planned on appointing an all-female cabinet, she had been unable to find qualified female candidates for every position.<ref name=CFR/>

Upon her inauguration, Sirleaf promised that she would impose a "zero tolerance" policy on corruption within the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80552|title=West Africa: Mixed report card in 2008 corruption index|agency=IRIN|date=28 September 2008}}</ref> Despite this, critics have argued that corruption remains rampant within Sirleaf's administration; Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh was sacked in 2008 over allegations that he had stolen more than $200,000 in state funds, while Internal Affairs Minister Ambullai Johnson, Sirleaf's brother, was dismissed in 2010 after the disappearance of funds for county development.<ref name=tarnish>{{cite news|first=Dino|last=Mahtani|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/28/tarnishing_the_iron_lady_of_africa?page=full|title=Tarnishing the Iron Lady of Africa|newspaper=Foreign Policy|date=28 May 2010|access-date=6 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118034616/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/28/tarnishing_the_iron_lady_of_africa?page=full|archive-date=18 November 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=James|last=Butty|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/butty-liberia-acquittal-react-tah-10december10-111654209/157023.html|title=Liberian Minister Vows Jury Reform Following Bropleh Corruption Trial|publisher=Voice of America|date=10 December 2010}}</ref> Sirleaf herself has acknowledged that corruption in government remains, noting that her zero tolerance policy was hampered by the need to pass major economic reforms through the legislature, a goal that would have been impeded by significant anti-corruption legislation and prosecutions.<ref name=tarnish/> However, Sirleaf has rejected claims that she has failed to fight corruption, pointing to the establishment of the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission and the restructuring of the General Auditing Commission.<ref>{{cite news|first=James|last=Butty|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/butty-liberia-us-president-sirleaf-27june11-124579629/158369.html|title=Liberian President Sirleaf: Country Making Progress, Challenges Remain|publisher=Voice of America|date=27 June 2011}}</ref>

Sirleaf dismissed her entire cabinet from office on 3 November 2010, promising to reassemble the cabinet in as short a time as possible.<ref name=dissolve>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/world/africa/04liberia.html?ref=liberia |title = Liberian Leader Dissolves Cabinet |work=The New York Times |date = 3 November 2010}}</ref> She argued that the move was taken to give her administration a "clean slate" in preparation for the final year of her term, though critics argued that the move was aimed to bolster her chances at reelection by confronting corruption in her administration.<ref name=dissolve/> By early December 2010, Sirleaf had reconstituted her entire cabinet, replacing seven of her nineteen ministers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afriqueavenir.org/en/2010/12/06/liberian-president-sirleaf-fully-reconstitutes-cabinet/ |title=Liberian president Sirleaf fully reconstitutes cabinet |work=Afrique Avenir |date=6 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130011142/http://www.afriqueavenir.org/en/2010/12/06/liberian-president-sirleaf-fully-reconstitutes-cabinet/ |archive-date=30 January 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalpartnership.org/blog/15-women-leading-way-girls-education|title=15 women leading the way for girls' education|website=www.globalpartnership.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-22}}</ref>

====First Cabinet====
{| cellpadding="1" cellspacing="2" style="float:margin:1em 1em 1em 0; border:1px solid #000; font-size:85%"
|-
! style="background:#dcdcdc" colspan="3"|The First Sirleaf Cabinet
|-
| style="text-align:left" | '''Office'''
| align=left | '''Name'''
| align=left | '''Term'''
|-
! style="background:#000" colspan="3"|
|-
| style="text-align:left" | [[President of Liberia|President]]
| align=left  | '''Ellen Johnson Sirleaf'''
| align=left | 2006–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | [[Vice President of Liberia|Vice President]]
| align=left | '''[[Joseph Boakai]]'''
| align=left | 2006–2012
|-
! style="background:#000" colspan="3"|
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Foreign Affairs
| align=left | '''[[George Wallace (diplomat)|George Wallace]]'''<br />'''[[Olubanke King Akerele]]'''<br />'''Toga McIntosh'''
| align=left | 2006–2007<br />2007–2010<br />2010–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Finance
| align=left | '''[[Antoinette Sayeh]]'''<br />'''[[Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan]]'''
| align=left | 2006–2008<br />2008–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Justice and<br />Attorney General
| align=left | '''Frances Johnson-Morris'''<br />'''Philip A. Z. Banks'''<br />'''Christiana Tah'''
| align=left | 2006–2007<br />2007–2009<br />2009–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of National Defense
| align=left | '''[[Brownie Samukai]]'''
| align=left | 2006–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Internal Affairs
| align=left | '''Ambullai Johnson'''<br />'''Harrison Kahnweah'''
| align=left | 2006–2010<br />2010–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Education
| align=left | '''[[Joseph Korto]]'''<br />'''E. Othello Gongar'''
| align=left | 2006–2010<br />2010–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Posts and<br />Telecommunications
| align=left | '''Jackson E. Doe'''<br />'''Jeremiah Sulunteh'''<br />'''Frederick B. Norkeh'''
| align=left | 2006–2008<br />2008–2010<br />2010–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Public Works
| align=left | '''Willis Knuckles'''<br />'''Luseni Donzo'''<br />'''[[Samuel Kofi Woods]]'''
| align=left | 2006<br />2007–2009<br />2009–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Agriculture
| align=left | '''Christopher Toe'''<br />'''[[Florence Chenoweth]]'''
| align=left | 2006–2009<br />2009–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Health and<br />Social Welfare
| align=left | '''[[Walter Gwenigale]]'''
| align=left | 2006–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Information,<br />Culture and Tourism
| align=left | '''Johnny McClain'''<br />'''Lawrence Bropleh'''
| align=left | 2006<br />2006–2009
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Planning and<br />Economic Affairs
| align=left | '''Toga McIntosh'''<br />'''[[Amara Mohamed Konneh]]'''
| align=left | 2006–2008<br />2008–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Lands, Mines<br />and Energy
| align=left | '''Eugene Shannon'''<br />'''Roosevelt Jayjay'''
| align=left | 2006–2010<br />2010–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Commerce<br />and Industry
| align=left | '''[[Olubanke King Akerele]]'''<br />'''Frances Johnson-Morris'''<br />'''Miatta Beysolow'''
| align=left | 2006–2007<br />2007–2008<br />2008–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Gender, Children<br />and Social Protection
| align=left | '''Vabah Gayflor'''
| align=left | 2006–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Labor
| align=left | '''[[Samuel Kofi Woods]]'''<br />'''Tiawon Gongloe'''<br />'''Vabah Gayflor'''
| align=left | 2006–2009<br />2009–2010<br />2010–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Youth<br />and Sports
| align=left | '''Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie'''<br />'''Etmonia Tarpeh'''
| align=left | 2006–2007<br />2007–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Transport
| align=left | '''Jeremiah Sulunteh'''<br />'''Jackson E. Doe'''<br />'''Alphonso Gaye'''<br />'''Willard Russell'''
| align=left | 2006–2008<br />2008–2009<br />2009–2010<br />2010–2012
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of State for<br />Presidential Affairs
| align=left | '''Morris Dukuly'''<br />'''Willis Knuckles'''<br />'''Edward B. McClain Jr.'''
| align=left | 2006<br />2006–2007<br />2007–2012
|}

====Second Cabinet====
{| cellpadding="1" cellspacing="2" style="float:margin:1em 1em 1em 0; border:1px solid #000; font-size:85%"
|-
! style="background:#dcdcdc" colspan="3"|The Second Sirleaf Cabinet
|-
| style="text-align:left" | '''Office'''
| align=left | '''Name'''
| align=left | '''Term'''
|-
! style="background:#000" colspan="3"|
|-
| style="text-align:left" | [[President of Liberia|President]]
| align=left  | '''Ellen Johnson Sirleaf'''
| align=left | 2012–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | [[Vice President of Liberia|Vice President]]
| align=left | '''[[Joseph Boakai]]'''
| align=left | 2012–2018
|-
! style="background:#000" colspan="3"|
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Foreign Affairs
| align=left | '''[[Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan]]'''<br />'''Marjon Kamara'''
| align=left | 2012–2015<br />2015–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Finance
| align=left | '''[[Amara Mohamed Konneh]]'''<br />'''Boima Kamara'''
| align=left | 2012–2016<br />2016–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Justice and<br />Attorney General
| align=left | '''Christiana Tah'''<br />'''Benedict F. Sannoh'''<br />'''Frederick Cherue'''
| align=left | 2012–2014<br />2014–2016<br />2016–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of National Defense
| align=left | '''[[Brownie Samukai]]'''
| align=left | 2012–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Internal Affairs
| align=left | '''Blamo Nelson'''<br />'''Morris Dukuly'''<br />'''Henrique Tokpa'''
| align=left | 2012–2013<br />2013–2015<br />2015–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Education
| align=left | '''Etmonia David Tarpeh'''<br />'''George Werner'''
| align=left | 2012–2015<br />2015–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Posts and<br />Telecommunications
| align=left | '''Frederick B. Norkeh'''
| align=left | 2012–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Public Works
| align=left | '''[[Samuel Kofi Woods]]'''<br />'''Antoinette Weeks'''<br />'''[[Gyude Moore]]'''
| align=left | 2012–2013<br />2013–2014<br />2014–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Agriculture
| align=left | '''Florence Chenoweth'''<br />'''Moses Zinnah'''
| align=left | 2012–2014<br />2014–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Health and<br />Social Welfare
| align=left | '''[[Walter Gwenigale]]'''<br />'''[[Bernice Dahn]]'''
| align=left | 2012–2015<br />2015–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Information,<br />Culture and Tourism
| align=left | '''Lewis Brown'''<br />'''[[Eugene Lenn Nagbe|Lenn Eugene Nagbe]]'''
| align=left | 2012–2016<br />2016–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Lands, Mines<br />and Energy
| align=left | '''Patrick Sendolo'''
| align=left | 2002–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Commerce<br />and Industry
| align=left | '''Miatta Beysolow'''<br />'''[[Axel Addy]]'''
| align=left | 2012–2013<br />2013–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Gender, Children<br />and Social Protection
| align=left | '''[[Julia Duncan-Cassell]]'''
| align=left | 2012–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Labor
| align=left | '''Juah Lawson'''<br />'''Neto Z. Lighe'''
| align=left | 2012–2014<br />2014–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Youth<br />and Sports
| align=left | '''Tornorlah Vapilah'''<br />'''Lenn Eugene Nagbe'''<br />'''Saah N'tow'''
| align=left | 2012–2013<br />2013–2016<br />2016–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of Transport
| align=left | '''Lenn Eugene Nagbe'''<br />'''Angela Cassell Bush'''
| align=left | 2012–2013<br />2013–2018
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Minister of State for<br />Presidential Affairs
| align=left | '''Edward B. McClain Jr.'''
| align=left | 2012–2016
|}

===Judicial appointments===

Upon the inauguration of Sirleaf, the entire Supreme Court bench, which had been selected as part of the transitional government in 2003, stepped down, leaving Sirleaf to fill all five seats on the Court. Sirleaf nominated [[Johnnie Lewis]], a [[Yale Law School]] graduate and former Circuit Court judge, for the office of [[Chief Justice of Liberia|Chief Justice]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200602130684.html|title=Johnny Lewis Named Chief Justice Frances Johnson Morris is Justice Minister|work=allAfrica.com|date=13 February 2006}}</ref> Lewis and three of Sirleaf's Associate Justice nominees, J. Emmanuel Wureh, Francis Korkpor and Gladys Johnson, were confirmed by the [[Senate of Liberia|Senate]] on 2 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200603030541.html|title=Pres. Sirleaf Commissions Chief Justice, Associate|work=allAfrica.com|date=3 March 2011}}</ref> Sirleaf's nomination of Kabineh Ja'neh, a former leader in the rebel [[Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy|LURD]] movement, as Associate Justice received criticism from the opposition [[Congress for Democratic Change]] due to concerns over Ja'neh's human rights record during the civil war, and Ja'neh was not confirmed until 9 May.<ref name=appoint/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200605100244.html|title=Senate Finally Confirms Ja'neh to Supreme Court|work=allAfrica.com|date=10 May 2006}}</ref>

Following the death of Justice Wureh in July 2006, Sirleaf nominated Christiana Tah, a deputy minister at the Justice Ministry, to fill his seat.<ref name=void>{{cite news|url=http://frontpageafricaonline.blogspot.com/2011/04/void-on-bench.html|title=Void on the Bench|newspaper=FrontPageAfrica|date=3 April 2011}}</ref> However, the Senate later rejected Tah's nomination, leading Sirleaf to nominate her Minister of Youth and Sports, Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie, who was confirmed.<ref name=void/> Justice Johnson retired from the Court on 26 March 2011 after reaching the constitutionally mandated retirement age of seventy.<ref name=void/> Sirleaf nominated Phillip A. Z. Banks, her former Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, to replace Johnson in August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1961 |title=Cllr. Philip Banks Nominated as Associate Justice of Supreme Court |publisher=The Executive Mansion |date=9 August 2011 |access-date=10 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125094346/http://emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1961 |archive-date=25 January 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Banks was confirmed by the Senate on 20 August 2011.<ref>{{cite news | first=Tom B. | last=Nyenur | url=http://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1062:amid-controversy-senate-confirms-banks-as-associate-justice&catid=42:politics&Itemid=134 | title=Amid Controversy&nbsp;– Senate Confirms Banks As Associate Justice | newspaper=FrontPageAfrica | date=21 August 2011 | access-date=21 August 2011}}</ref>

===International image===

''[[Forbes]]'' magazine named Sirleaf as the 51st [[The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|most powerful woman in the world]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tatiana |last=Serafin |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/11/06women_Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf_BMW8.html |title=The 100 Most Powerful Women: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |work=Forbes |date= 31 August 2006}}</ref> In 2010, ''[[Newsweek]]'' listed her as one of the ten best leaders in the world, while ''Time'' counted her among the top ten female leaders.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=McLure |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/16/go-to-the-head-of-the-class/the-rebuilder-ellen-johnson-sirleaf.html |title=The Rebuilder: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |date=16 August 2010 |work=Newsweek}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=William Lee |last=Adams |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2005455_2005458_2005482,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825070849/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2005455_2005458_2005482,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 August 2010 |title=Top 10 Female Leaders |date=7 September 2010 |magazine=Time}}</ref> That same year, ''[[The Economist]]'' called her "arguably the best president the country has ever had."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/node/16168384?story_id=16168384 |title=Another Round for Africa's Iron Lady |date=22 May 2010 |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref> In 2010, Sirleaf released her first book, ''This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cooper|first=Helene|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/books/review/Cooper-t.html|title=Madame President|date=2009-05-15|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-01|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Life after politics==
[[File:Mia Mottley & Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (2022).jpg|thumb|Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with [[Mia Mottley]], [[Prime Minister of Barbados]], in 2022]]
In 2018, Sirleaf founded the [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development]],  which aims "to be a catalyst for change across Africa, by helping unleash its most abundant untapped power – its women".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00072449.html | title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Launches Women's Center as Change Catalyst | website=AllAfrica.com | date=19 March 2020 | access-date=30 January 2021 }}</ref> In 2019, [[Director-General of the World Health Organization]] [[Tedros Adhanom]] appointed Sirleaf as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for the health workforce.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200715054041/https://www.who.int/hrh/news/2019/EJS_good-will-ambassador-hwf/en/ Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Workforce] [[World Health Organization]], press release of 20 May 2019.</ref> Amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, she stepped down from this post to serve as co-chair (alongside [[Helen Clark]]) of the WHO's Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR).<ref>[WHO chief taps ex-leaders to head COVID-19 response panel] ''[[Associated Press]]'', 9 July 2020.</ref><ref>John Miller (9 July 2020), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-panel/veteran-female-leaders-to-head-who-covid-19-review-amid-anti-globalism-barbs-idUSKBN24A2U3 Veteran female leaders to head WHO COVID-19 review amid anti-globalism barbs] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref> Also in 2020, she was appointed to the Development Advisory Council of the [[U.S. International Development Finance Corporation]].<ref>[https://www.dfc.gov/who-we-are/development-advisory-council Development Advisory Council] [[U.S. International Development Finance Corporation]].</ref>

In addition, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf holds a number of paid and unpaid positions, including the following:
* Africa Europe Foundation (AEF), Member of the High-Level Group of Personalities on Africa-Europe Relations (since 2020)<ref>[https://www.friendsofeurope.org/initiatives/eu-africa-high-level-group/ High-Level Group of Personalities on Africa-Europe Relations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411085150/https://www.friendsofeurope.org/initiatives/eu-africa-high-level-group/ |date=11 April 2022 }} Africa Europe Foundation (AEF).</ref>
* [[Brenthurst Foundation]], Member of the Advisory Board<ref>[https://www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org/about/team-advisors/ Advisory Board] [[Brenthurst Foundation]].</ref>
* [[Mastercard Foundation]], Member of the Board of Directors (since 2020)<ref>[https://mastercardfdn.org/foundation/team/?fwp_roles=board Our Leadership: Board] [[Mastercard Foundation]].</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1956, Ellen Johnson married James Sirleaf. They had four sons together before their divorce.<ref name="bergner" /> She grew up as a [[Presbyterian]], but later joined her husband's [[Methodist]] faith.<ref>"[http://thenewslib.com/news/564-gov-t-rejects-newspaper-story Gov't Rejects Newspaper Story] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512221442/http://thenewslib.com/news/564-gov-t-rejects-newspaper-story |date=12 May 2014 }}".  ''The News'' 7 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-09.</ref> Through her sons she has ten grandchildren.

While attending college in the United States, Sirleaf became a member of the [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] sorority and she is an honorary member of the Links, Incorporated. She is the aunt to American actress/comic [[Retta]] (born Marietta Sirleaf),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/parks-and-recreation|title=Watch Parks and Recreation Streaming &#124; Peacock|website=@peacocktv}}</ref> best known for her role as Donna Meagle on the [[NBC]] [[Television comedy|comedy]] ''[[Parks and Recreation]]''.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/parks-recreation-nobel-peace-prize-245753|title='Parks and Recreation' Has a Nobel Peace Prize Connection|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=7 October 2011}}</ref>

Several of her children served in the Liberian government. Her son Robert Sirleaf served as head of the National Oil Company of Liberia, Charles Sirleaf holds a senior position at the [[Central Bank of Liberia]], and stepson Fombah Sirleaf heads the Liberian National Security Agency, with responsibility for internal security. Other members of the Sirleaf family are serving in other positions in government.<ref>[http://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/391-mixed-reactions-over-president-sirleaf-s-claim-of-family-not-wealthy "Mixed reactions over President Sirleaf's claim of family not wealthy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708141337/http://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/391-mixed-reactions-over-president-sirleaf-s-claim-of-family-not-wealthy |date=8 July 2016 }}, 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/1038-richard-tolbert-indicted-sirleaf-saytumah-kupee-fate-undecided|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611124703/http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/1038-richard-tolbert-indicted-sirleaf-saytumah-kupee-fate-undecided|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2016|title=Richard Tolbert Indicted: Sirleaf, Saytumah, Kupee Fate Undecided|access-date=1 June 2018}}</ref>

In December 2021, James Sirleaf, one of the sons of Ellen Sirleaf, died in his residence in Liberia under unknown circumstances.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

==Criticism==
Sirleaf was accused in 2014 of interfering with a criminal investigation involving her stepson Fombah Sirleaf and the security agency.<ref name="gnn">{{cite news|title=Committee Setup To Investigate President Sirleaf's Son on Seizure of Korean US$247,000.00 Releases Report With Recommendations; Ordering Refund of the Money|url=http://gnnliberia.com/2014/11/08/liberia-committee-setup-to-investigate-president-sirleafs-son-on-seizure-of-korean-us247000-00-releases-report-with-recommendations-ordering-refund-of-the-money/|publisher=GNN Liberia|date=8 November 2014|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111143254/http://gnnliberia.com/2014/11/08/liberia-committee-setup-to-investigate-president-sirleafs-son-on-seizure-of-korean-us247000-00-releases-report-with-recommendations-ordering-refund-of-the-money/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="investigation">{{cite news|title=Liberia's Ebola Crisis Puts President in Harsh Light|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/world/africa/liberias-ebola-crisis-puts-president-in-harsh-light.html|work=The New York Times|date=30 October 2014}}</ref> Her Minister of Justice Christiana Tah resigned in October 2014, accusing President Sirleaf of interference with the criminal investigation into the [[2014 National Security Agency illegal seizure|illegal seizure of money]] from Korean businessmen by the NSA in a warrantless hotel raid in July 2014.<ref name="investigation"/>

In 2019, her son, Charles Sirleaf, was charged with economic sabotage through the unlawful printing of local currency to the value of US$75 million. The investigation was carried out by investigative auditing firm Kroll.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-03-05|title=Sirleaf son charged over Liberia banknotes|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47450217|access-date=2020-08-04}}</ref>

=== Paradise Papers ===

{{See also|Paradise Papers}}In November 2017, an investigation conducted by the [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists|International Consortium of Investigative Journalism]] cited Sirleaf among [[List of people and organisations named in the Paradise Papers|the list of politicians named in]] "[[Paradise Papers]]" allegations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/explore-politicians-paradise-papers/|title=Explore The Politicians in the Paradise Papers |work=ICIJ|access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref><!-- Needs explanation as to what this means and why important -->

==Honours and awards==
[[File:Ellen Johnson statue (cropped).jpg|thumb|A statue of Sirleaf unveiled in [[Owerri]]'s Ikemba Ojukwu Square ([[Imo State|Imo state]], [[Nigeria]]) in 2017]]
*Recipient of the 1988 [[Roosevelt Institute]] Freedom of Speech Award<ref>{{cite web |url=http://merchant.videotex.net/common/news/reports/detail.cfm?QID=6330&ClientID=11005&topicID=232&classification=report |title=Recipients of the Four Freedoms Award |publisher=[[Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute]] |access-date=14 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821192903/http://merchant.videotex.net/common/news/reports/detail.cfm?QID=6330&ClientID=11005&topicID=232&classification=report |archive-date=21 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Ralph Bunche]] International Leadership Award
* Chief of [[Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya]] highest in [[Kenya]] 
* Grand commander Star of Africa Redemption of Liberia
* 1996 Commander of the [[Order of Mono]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf -|url=https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/|website=Archives of Women's Political Communication|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>
* 2006 Common Ground Award recipient, [[Search for Common Ground]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfcg.org/sfcg/awards/2006gallery.html |title=Common Ground Awards 2006 |publisher=Search for Common Ground |access-date=14 December 2010}}</ref>
* 2006 Laureate of the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, [[The Hunger Project]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africaprize.org/06/ |title=President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: 2006 Africa Prize Laureate |publisher=[[The Hunger Project]] |year=2006 |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-date=26 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326180439/http://africaprize.org/06/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 2006 Distinguished Fellow, Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning, Emory University<ref>{{cite web| url=http://halleinstitute.emory.edu/distinguished_fellows/sirleaf.html |title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Halle Distinguished Fellow, September 12, 2006 |publisher=[[Emory University]] |access-date=14 December 2010}}</ref>
* 2006 Awarded Honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] from [[Marquette University]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marquette.edu/universityhonors/honors_sirleaf.shtml |title=Honorary Degree Recipient: Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |publisher=[[Marquette University]] |date=23 October 2006 |access-date=14 December 2010}}</ref>
* 2006 David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award from Synergos<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.synergos.org/universityforanight/06/honorees.htm |title=2006 David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award Honorees |publisher=Synergos |date=12 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213171535/http://synergos.org/universityforanight/06/honorees.htm |archive-date=13 December 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* 2007 [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the highest civilian award given by the United States, awarded to Sirleaf by U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] on 5 November 2007<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=White House Office of the Press Secretary |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071029.html |title=President Bush Announces Recipients of Presidential Medal of Freedom |date=29 October 2007}}</ref>
* 2008 Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=  https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service}}</ref>
* 2008 Awarded Honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degree from [[Indiana University (Bloomington)|Indiana University]],<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/7887.html |title=Liberian president receiving honorary degree at IU Bloomington commencement |publisher=[[Indiana University]] |date=8 April 2010}}</ref> [[Dartmouth College]];<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2008/04/22h.html|title=Dartmouth 2008 Honorary Degree Recipient Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Doctor of Laws)|publisher=[[Dartmouth College]]|access-date=19 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916222608/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2008/04/22h.html|archive-date=16 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Brown University]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2008/09/sirleaf  |title=Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to Receive Honorary Degree |publisher=[[Brown University]] |date=8 September 2009}}</ref>
* 2009 Awarded the [[EITI]] Award for "the rapid progress the country has made towards implementation of the EITI"<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200902180838.html  |title=Eiti Awards Government for Progress, As President Sirleaf Returns Home |publisher=[[AllAfrica.com]] |date=18 February 2009}}</ref>
* 2009 Awarded Honorary [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] degree from the [[University of Tampa]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ut.edu/Honorary-Doctorate-Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf-Named-Nobel-Peace-Prize-Recipient.aspx|title=UT Honorary Doctorate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Named Nobel Peace Prize Recipient|date=7 October 2011|access-date=7 October 2011|publisher=The University of Tampa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017235634/http://www.ut.edu/Honorary-Doctorate-Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf-Named-Nobel-Peace-Prize-Recipient.aspx|archive-date=17 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2010 Awarded Honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degree from [[Yale University]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Esther |last=Zuckerman |url=http://www.yaledailynews.com/crosscampus/2010/05/23/liberian-president-receive-honorary-degree/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110606170654/http://www.yaledailynews.com/crosscampus/2010/05/23/liberian-president-receive-honorary-degree/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 June 2011 |title=Liberian president to receive honorary degree |work=[[Yale Daily News]] |date=23 May 2010 }}</ref> and [[Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commencement.rutgers.edu/honorarybio.shtml/ |title=2010 Commencement/Convocations |publisher=[[Rutgers University]] |date=25 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701071217/http://commencement.rutgers.edu/honorarybio.shtml |archive-date=1 July 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>
* 2010 Friend of the Media in Africa Award from The African Editor's Union<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1686 |title=President Sirleaf Receives African Editors Honor |publisher=The Executive Mansion |location=Monrovia |date=18 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122185835/http://emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1686 |archive-date=22 November 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>
* 2011 Awarded Honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degree from [[Harvard University]]<ref>[http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/05/harvard-to-award-nine-honorary-degrees/ "Harvard awards 9 honorary degrees"], ''Harvard Gazette'', 26 May 2011.</ref>
* 2011 African Gender Award<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1919 |title='You Have Brought Honor to All African Women,' Senegal's Wade Says |publisher=The Executive Mansion |location=Monrovia |date=18 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705052138/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1919 |archive-date=5 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>
* 2011 [[Nobel Peace Prize]]<ref name="nobel"/>
* 2012 [[Indira Gandhi Prize]] for Peace, Disarmament and Development<ref name="news.biharprabha.com"/>
* As of 2014, she is listed as the 70th most powerful woman in the world by ''Forbes''.<ref name=Forbes14/>
* In 2017, she was awarded a title in the [[Nigerian chieftaincy system]] by [[Eze]] Samuel Ohiri of Imo, Nigeria. As a result, she is now the '''Ada di Ohanma''' of [[Igboland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.juliablaise.com/2017/11/photos-okorocha-honours-ellen-johnson.html?m=1|website=juliablaise.com|title=Photos: Okorocha honours Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with chieftaincy title, Ada di Ohanma of Igboland|access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref>
* 2017 - She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 Women of 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-09-27 |title=BBC 100 Women 2017: Who is on the list? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-41380265 |access-date=2022-12-17}}</ref>
* 2018 Won the 2017 version of the [[Ibrahim Prize]] for Achievement in African Leadership<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mo.ibrahim.foundation/news/2018/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-wins-2017-ibrahim-prize-achievement-african-leadership/ |title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wins 2017 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership |date=12 February 2018 |publisher=Mo Ibrahim Foundation |access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref>


===National===
*{{flag|Liberia}}:
**[[File:Order of the Pioneers of Liberia - ribbon bar.png|60px]] Grand Master and Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Pioneers of Liberia]] 
**[[File:Order of the Star of Africa (Liberia) - ribbon bar.png|60px]] Grand Master and Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Star of Africa]]

===Foreign===
*{{Flag|France}}:
**[[File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg|60px]] Grand Cross of the [[Légion d'honneur|National Order of the Legion of Honour]]
*{{Flag|Ivory Coast}}:
**[[File:Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national GC ribbon.svg|60px]] Grand Cross of the [[National Order of the Ivory Coast]] (7 September 2017)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.abidjan.net/articles/621903/cote-divoire-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-elevee-dans-la-dignite-de-grand-croix-de-lordre-national | title=Côte d'Ivoire/Ellen Johnson Sirleaf élevée dans la Dignité de Grand-Croix de l'Ordre national - Abidjan.net News }}</ref>
*{{flag|Kenya}}:
**[[File:Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya.svg|60px]] Chief of [[Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya]]
*{{flag|Togo}}:
**[[File:TGO Order of Mono - Commander BAR.png|60px]] Commander of the [[Order of Mono]] (1996)
*{{flag|United States}}:
**[[File:Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction (ribbon).svg|60px]] [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (2007)

==Other honors==
In 2011, Sirleaf was jointly awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] with [[Leymah Gbowee]] of Liberia and [[Tawakkol Karman]] of [[Yemen]]. The three women were recognized "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work."<ref name="nobel">{{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2011/press.html |title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2011&nbsp;– Press Release |publisher=Nobel Foundation |access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref>

Sirleaf was conferred the [[Indira Gandhi Prize]] by Indian President [[Pranab Mukherjee]] on 12 September 2013.<ref name="news.biharprabha.com">{{cite web|title=Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to get Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/09/liberia-president-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-to-get-indira-gandhi-prize-for-peace/|access-date=11 September 2013}}</ref> In 2016, she was listed as the [[Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|83rd-most powerful woman in the world]] by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine.<ref name=Forbes14>{{cite web|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/|work=Forbes|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2011/johnson_sirleaf/facts/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2011|website=NobelPrize.org|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-22}}</ref>

==Published works==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite report |title=The Outlook for Commercial Bank Lending to Sub-Saharan Africa |url=https://ideas.repec.org/p/wbk/wbrwps/720.html |last=Johnson Sirleaf |first=Ellen |author2=Nyirjesy, Francis |year=1991 |publisher=[[World Bank]] |access-date=14 December 2010 }}
* {{cite book |last=Johnson Sirleaf | first=Ellen | editor-first=Kevin| editor-last=Cahill |title=A Framework for Survival: Health, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Assistance in Conflicts and Disasters |location=New York |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=1999 |chapter=From Disaster to Development |isbn=978-0-415-92235-7}}
* {{cite book |last1=Johnson Sirleaf | first1=Ellen| last2=Rehn| first2=Elizabeth|title=Women, War and Peace: The Independent Experts' Assessment on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Women and Women's Role in Peace-building | location=New York |publisher=[[UNIFEM]] |year=2002 |isbn=0-912917-66-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Johnson Sirleaf |first=Ellen |editor-first=Nikki |editor-last=Van Der Gaag |title=Because I am a Girl: In the Shadow of War |location=Woking |publisher=Plan UK |year=2009 |chapter=Foreword |pages=[https://archive.org/details/becauseiamgirlst0000unse/page/10 10–11] |isbn=978-0-9550479-4-7 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/becauseiamgirlst0000unse/page/10 }}
{{Refend}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Liberia|Biography|Politics}}
* [[Black Nobel Prize laureates]]
* [[List of female Nobel laureates]]
* ''[[Iron Ladies of Liberia]]''
* [[List of peace activists]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* Anderson, Jon Lee. "[http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/03/27/060327fa_fact_anderson Letter from Liberia: After the Warlords]", ''[[The New Yorker]]'', 27 March 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
* {{Cite book |last=Johnson Sirleaf |first=Ellen |year=2009 |title=This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President |location=New York |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=978-0-06-135347-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/thischildwillbeg00john }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |year=2017 |first=Helene |last=Cooper |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-1451697353}}
* {{cite book |last1=Scully |first1=Pamela |title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |date=2016 |publisher=Ohio University Press |location=Athens, OH |isbn=9780821445600}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.emansion.gov.lr/ Liberia Executive Mansion] official government website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111221134302/http://www.aka1908.com/news/130-alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority-salutes-member-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-on-winning-the-nobel-peace-prize.html "Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority salutes member Ellen Johnson Sirleaf".]
* [http://www.emansion.gov.lr/ Biography]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090729171837/https://www.trcofliberia.org/ Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia] includes final report
* {{C-SPAN|8920}}
* {{IMDb name|2770344}}
* [https://www.forbes.com/profile/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/ Ellen Johnson Sirleaf] collected news and commentary at ''[[Forbes]]''
* {{NYTtopic|people/j/ellen_johnson_sirleaf}}
* [https://twitter.com/MaEllenSirleaf?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Twitter (X)]
* [https://live.worldbank.org/experts/ellen-johnson-sirleaf Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | World Bank Live]
'''Speeches'''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180623171644/https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2017/03/21/speech-to-the-u-s-congress-march-15-2006/ Address to US Congress in Joint Session 15 March 2006 (audio archive available)]<ref>{{cite web |title=Speech to the U.S. Congress - March 15, 2006 - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |url=https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2017/03/21/speech-to-the-u-s-congress-march-15-2006/ |website=awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu |publisher=[[Iowa State University]] |access-date=25 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623171644/https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2017/03/21/speech-to-the-u-s-congress-march-15-2006/ |archive-date= 23 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MARCH 15, 2006 Liberian President Address |url=https://www.c-span.org/program/joint-session-of-congress/liberian-president-address/155403 |website=c-span.org |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |access-date=25 January 2025}} (Includes video of the address)</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Addresses U.S. Congress|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/b/63384.htm |website=2001-2009.state.gov |publisher=[[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] |access-date=25 January 2025}}</ref>
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060321185639/http://www.usip.org/events/2006/0321_liberia.html Sirleaf Speaks at U.S. Institute of Peace (audio archive available)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070117071058/http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=19235 Liberian President Speaks to Georgetown Community], 17 October 2006
'''Profiles and interviews'''
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/4395978.stm "Profile: Liberia's 'Iron Lady'"] on [[BBC News Online]], 23 November 2005
* [http://newsghana.com.gh/?p=846166 "Who Is President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf?"] on [[News Ghana]], 1 November 2015
* [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/08/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-100-women Top 100 Women in Politics: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf], Ermine Saner, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 8 March 2011
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151231220525/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/3ao1g7/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-ellen-johnson-sirleaf Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.cc.com/video-clips/3ao1g7/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-ellen-johnson-sirleaf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151231220525/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/3ao1g7/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-ellen-johnson-sirleaf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 31 December 2015 | title = Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
| date = 21 April 2009 | access-date =7 October 2011 | publisher=The Daily Show with Jon Stewart}}</ref>
* [http://www.freedomcollection.org/interviews/ellen_johnson_sirleaf/ Ellen Johnson Sirleaf interview] at the ''[[Freedom Collection]]''<ref>{{Webarchive|title=Freedom Collection interview|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227182610/http://www.freedomcollection.org/interviews/ellen_johnson_sirleaf/ |archive-date=27 February 2021 }}</ref> 
* {{Nobelprize}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Finance (Liberia)|Minister of Finance]]|years=1990}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Liberia]]|years=2006–2018}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Liu Xiaobo]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Laureate of the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]|with=[[Leymah Gbowee]] and [[Tawakkol Karman]]|years=2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[European Union]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{LiberianPresidents}}
{{Nobel Peace Prize Laureates 2001–2025}}
{{2011 Nobel Prize winners}}
{{Ibrahim Prize}}
{{The Elders}}
{{Freedom Award laureates}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Liberian politicians]]
[[Category:African women in war]]
[[Category:Madison Business College alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Liberian Nobel laureates]]
[[Category:Liberian people of German descent]]
[[Category:Liberian people of Gola descent]]
[[Category:Liberian people of Kru descent]]
[[Category:Liberian United Methodists]]
[[Category:21st-century Liberian women politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:Politicians from Monrovia]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]]
[[Category:Presidents of Liberia]]
[[Category:Unity Party (Liberia) politicians]]
[[Category:Women in 21st-century warfare]]
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[[Category:Women presidents in Africa]]
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[[Category:Female finance ministers]]
[[Category:College of West Africa alumni]]
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[[Category:Converts to Methodism]]
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