How did women participate in Liberia’s government after the 2005 election?

Following the 2005 election in Liberia, women’s participation in government reached a significant milestone when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president, marking the first time a woman was elected head of state in an African country.12

Beyond the presidency, women’s involvement in the political process during the first decade of the 21st century included the following roles:

• Legislature: Women held approximately one-seventh of the seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.2
• Local Government: Women occupied about one-third of local government positions.2
• Executive and Judicial Branches: Women served as ministers and deputy ministers within the cabinet and held positions as justices on the Supreme Court.2

These contributions reflect a broader effort to integrate women into the nation's political and administrative structures following the country's transition toward democratic governance.2