Africa’s first woman president sworn in

ELLEN Johnson Sirleaf was yesterday sworn in as war-battered Liberia’s new president, carving her name into history as Africa’s first elected female head of state.

Wearing a cream-coloured outfit and traditional African headdress, Sirleaf repeated the oath of office read to her by Liberian Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Reed Cooper during an inauguration ceremony attended by thousands of civilians and scores of foreign diplomats, dignitaries and African leaders.

In a statement, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated Sirleaf, saying she had a “historic mandate to lead the nation toward a future of lasting peace and stability.”

Sirleaf takes charge of a ruined nation struggling for peace after a quarter century of coups and war. She has pledged to unite Liberia and secure the trust of sceptical foreign donors whose aid is desperately needed to rebuild.

Security was tight at yesterday’s ceremony, with armed UN peacekeepers surveying the scene from atop surrounding buildings with binoculars. The UN has redeployed 500 peacekeepers previously stationed outside the capital to strategic points in Monrovia and the international airport. Liberian police, though unarmed, have also increased their presence on the streets. Two US Navy warships were visible offshore for the first time since the war ended in 2003, a rare show of support also meant to protect two high-profile guests: Laura Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.