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Ibrahim Prize Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joins The Elders

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and the 2017 Ibrahim Prize Laureate, has joined the global leadership group The Elders.

The Elders is an independent initiative of global leaders who work together to promote peace and human rights around the world. Mme Sirleaf joins Ibrahim Prize Committee members Mary Robinson and Graça Machel as part of the group.

In a release published this week by The Elders, Mme Sirleaf said:

 

I look forward to working with The Elders to inspire people everywhere, particularly women and girls, to reach their true potential, break through barriers and pursue their dreams.

 

Mme Sirleaf served as the President of Liberia from 2006 to 2017, taking over a country devastated by 14 years of civil war and later struck by an Ebola crisis.

She was awarded the Ibrahim Prize in February 2018 for demonstrating exceptional leadership while in office. She was praised for her work on behalf of the people of Liberia and for laying the foundations of a democratic future for the country.

Since leaving office, Mme Sirleaf has been championing good leadership and governance across Africa and the world, as well as serving as Chairperson of the High Level Panel on International Migration in Africa for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Mo Ibrahim congratulated Mme Sirleaf:

 

Congratulations to fellow comrade Ellen Johnshon Sirleaf as she joins The Elders. I know she will continue to be a voice, and champion governance issues, particularly for young women and girls.

 

She is one of the three world leaders to have joined The Elders this week. The other two are Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, and Zeid Raad Al Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.