Ma Ellen: Triumph and Turmoil - The Legacy of Africa's First Female Head of State

The Republic of Liberia, a nation scarred by civil war, military coups, and the shadow of warlords, seemed an unlikely candidate to birth Africa’s first-ever elected female head of state. Yet, in January 2006, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—dubbed “Africa’s Iron Lady”—made history when she was inaugurated as Liberia’s president. Her victory was celebrated globally as a monumental step for women’s empowerment in Africa. However, her 12 years at the helm (2006-2018) would prove a complex tapestry of profound triumph and deep disappointment.

A Nation Founded on Irony: The Americo-Liberian Divide

Liberia’s unique story begins in 1822, founded by freed African-Americans who emigrated from the United States with the utopian dream of establishing a free republic. Over four decades, approximately 13,000 former slaves and their descendants settled in the territory.

The Divide: Cut off from the culture of their African ancestors and steeped in American traditions, these immigrants—the Americo-Liberians—did not assimilate with the indigenous tribal societies.
The Oppressor: In a cruel reversal, the Americo-Liberians became the nation’s political and economic elite, denying indigenous populations civic rights, mirroring the oppression they or their forebears faced in the American South.
A Dystopian Society: By the time of Sirleaf’s birth in 1938, Liberian society was strictly divided: the wealthy, powerful Americo-Liberians versus the poor, disenfranchised indigenous Liberians.

Sirleaf’s own background was a bridge between these worlds: her father was the first indigenous Liberian to serve in the country’s parliament, granting her access to privileges typically reserved for the Americo-Liberian class.

The Road to the Presidency: Civil War and Political Turmoil

Sirleaf’s career was defined by constant struggle and exile.

Finance Minister: She served as Minister of Finance in President William Tolbert’s largely Americo-Liberian government in the 1970s.
Coup and Exile: Following the violent April 12, 1980 coup by indigenous Master Sergeant Samuel Doe, Sirleaf initially survived the execution of most of the cabinet but later fled in November 1980 after publicly criticizing Doe’s regime.
Support for Taylor: She later raised money to support Charles Taylor’s rebellion against Doe in 1989, which ignited the First Liberian Civil War. She later opposed Taylor’s recklessness and repression.
The 2005 Election: After two brutal civil wars, Sirleaf ran again for president. Despite her superior education and deep political history, she faced George Weah, the three-time African Footballer of the Year. She won the subsequent run-off election with 59% of the votes.

Ma Ellen’s Maternal Politics and Achievements

Adopting the moniker “Ma Ellen,” Sirleaf positioned herself as the maternal figure needed to heal a country torn apart by conflicts fueled by male ego.

Grassroots Connection: Her government was defined by connecting with the grassroots, particularly the market women who conduct an estimated 85% of all agricultural trading activities in Liberia.
The Market Women’s Fund: She established the Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund, focused on rebuilding market infrastructure, providing basic literacy and numeracy, and increasing access to investment capital through micro-credit facilities.
Institutional Reform: Her administration passed one of Africa’s most comprehensive anti-rape legislations and developed plans to combat gender-based violence.
Debt Relief and Growth: Her government successfully negotiated over $4.6 billion in debt relief and development grants. The annual national budget grew significantly from $80 million to $516 million.
Nobel Peace Prize: In 2011, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to secure peace and promote women’s rights.

The Bittersweet Legacy: Failures and Disappointments

Sirleaf’s presidency was not immune to the failures that plague many African leaders.

Nepotism: Despite criticizing former regimes for the same, Sirleaf was widely accused of nepotism. Over 20 members of her family were appointed to key positions in government, including her sons Charles, Fombah, and Robert Sirleaf to senior posts in the Central Bank, National Security Agency, and the National Oil Company, respectively.
Corruption Scandals: Her administration was tarnished by a myriad of corruption scandals.
Land Concessions: She oversaw the award of concessions amounting to over one-third of Liberia’s landmass to multinational corporations, and over 40% of the country’s forests were acquired by foreign logging companies.
Feminist Criticism: Her administration faced criticism from feminist groups for ranking at the bottom of major Liberian parties for female candidates and for failing to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a pledge from her campaign. She also distanced herself from feminist ideology, calling it “a form of extremism.”

Sirleaf’s Liberia was ranked 97th out of 153 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, lagging behind other African nations like Paul Kagame’s Rwanda, which was ranked 9th globally, thanks to its over 50% representation of women in parliament.

A Giant in Modern African History

Regardless of the debate over her feminist credentials or corruption record, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s status as a giant in modern African history remains indisputable. She became the continent’s first elected female head of state against a backdrop of sharp ethnic tensions and civil wars. She successfully brought stability to one of Africa’s most turbulent nations, oversaw a peaceful transition of power, and left Liberia in a better position than when she took office.

Since her election, Africa has seen the emergence of other female presidents, including Joyce Banda of Malawi, Amina Garib-Fakim of Mauritius, and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, affirming that Sirleaf’s landmark moment has indeed paved the way.