Sirleaf is the President of Liberia who started her political career in 1972. In 2006, she won the presidential election and was re-elected in 2011. She received a Nobel Peace Prize the same year, shared with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman, for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work."
Sirleaf has worked to promote peace, reconciliation and social and economic development ever since her journey into the political realm.
She has left a mixed legacy behind her while on the one hand she is responsible for helping to sustain peace in Liberia since the end of the civil war in 2003. She took steps to improve the livelihoods and protection of women in Liberia, for instance ensuring women could be recruited into the armed forces. However, this is overshadowed by allegations of corruption against her sons and the steps she is alleged to be taking to try and protect them from any kind of investigation.
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