Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

President, Republic of Liberia

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is current President of Liberia. She served as Minister of Finance under President William Tolbert (1979-1980). She became president in 2006 and been reelected in 2011. Sirleaf is the first elected female head of state in Africa.She was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and Tawakel Karman of Yemen. The 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.