Election of Africa's first female president is a milestone for continent

[struggle4progress]

Published: Friday, Oct. 07, 2011
Updated: Friday, Oct. 07, 2011 10:04 AM
Shashank Bengali
Knight Ridder Newspapers

NAIROBI, Kenya --

NAIROBI, Kenya — On a continent where women suffer in nearly every measure of health and welfare, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's apparent election to the presidency of war-torn Liberia is raising hopes for a new era in African politics: the era of women.

"It's a breakthrough for African women," said Florence Butegwa, West Africa director for the United Nations Development Fund for Women. "We haven't had a role model in terms of political leadership at that highest level."

Johnson-Sirleaf would be Africa's first elected female president. Until now, political power on this vast and resource-rich continent has been wielded exclusively by men, whose legacy has been one of corruption, discrimination, despotism and war ...

http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2005/11/16/1285711/election-of-africas-first-female.html

[struggle4progress]

1. Liberia vote to proceed after Nobel win: election body

DAKAR | Fri Oct 7, 2011 7:14am EDT

(Reuters) - Liberia's presidential election will go ahead next Tuesday as scheduled after incumbent Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was named joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, the West African country's election body said ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/07/us-liberia-vote-nobel-idUSTRE7961MS20111007

[struggle4progress]

2. Transcript of President Sirleaf's Remarks Upon Announcement of Nobel Peace Prize

President Sirleaf: I am pleased and honored to have been selected for the Nobel Peace Prize. I consider it a recognition of the many years of struggle for justice, for peace and the promotion of development. This Prize is being shared with Leymah Gbowee, another Liberian woman, as well as a human rights activist from Yemen for their struggle. Leymah Gbowee worked very hard with women in Liberia from all walks of life, to challenge a dictatorship, to sit in the sun and the rain advocating for peace.

I believe we both accept this honor on behalf of the Liberian people, and the credit goes to them. For we are now going into our ninth year of peace, and every Liberian has contributed to it.

We particularly give this credit to Liberian women, who have consistently led the struggle for peace, even under conditions of neglect.

This recognition makes us more committed to continue to advocate for human rights, for women's equal opportunity and for a better life for all Liberians ...

http://allafrica.com/stories/201110071270.html

[Number23]

3. She won the Nobel??! Oh, how I love her

Congrats to the three beautiful women who won this year's award. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2011/#

However, this OP is weird. Sirleaf was elected to the presidency in 2006.

[tblue]

4. They beat us to it.

Amazing. Good for them. Good for her!!!

[struggle4progress]

5. Yeah, serious props to her!

I'm still rooting for James Guseh, but only because I've met him and think he's a cool guy: I hardly know anything about Liberia

[DailyGrind51]

6. Even a secular/Muslim country had a woman president, Tansu Ciller of Turkey!