Ms. Ruth Sando Perry is modern Africa's first woman head of state, and she feels that her nomination to the African Women's Committee on Peace and Development, has put Liberia on Africa's map in terms of advocacy for peace. Interviewed by Africa Recovery during the ECA conference in Addis Ababa, she sent a message back home: "It is time the government recognizes the potential of women and supports their empowerment."
Ms. Perry has an eventful public background. She was an independent legislator, elected as Senator for Grand Cape Mount County in 1985, and sponsored legislation to protect the rights of women and children. She also founded the Peace Now, Peace for Liberia movement, and is a founder member of the Women's Development Association of Liberia, the Liberian Women's Initiative, and Women for Action and Goodwill. She recently set up the Perry Centre in Liberia to provide a range of services for children and youth.
Photo: Lidya Mullugetta
She became head of state by going to Abuja in August 1996 as a member of one of the delegations for another round of the peace negotiations for Liberia conducted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). "They decided that since men had had the opportunity [to make peace] and had not succeeded, they would try the women. I was called and told by the faction leaders and ECOWAS officials that they wanted me to head the government until peace was restored and we had elections."
As mandated by ECOWAS, her tenure was very short and involved disarmament, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration of refugees and displaced people, and transparent elections. "We kept our head above water and finally came to the end of the mandate with successful elections. We were very happy that we accomplished those things we were asked to do."
She said Liberian women had been delighted with her appointment, "even if some men and some women were not sure I could deliver." But then everybody decided to get on board. After making a calm evaluation of the whole situation, she says, "I knew I could handle these men."
Ms. Perry decided to be firm and flexible, finding out what every faction wanted, while "keeping on the back of the international community" to get full logistic and diplomatic support for ECOMOG (the ECOWAS force). And how did she handle the faction leaders? Chuckling, she said "along the way, sometimes you tell them a little truth, and a little something else, always reassuring them about the ballot box. I used my womanly, my motherly touch and everything that you apply within your community, your church and your home."
Ms. Perry looks forward to her new role in building peace for African development, a role that will encourage Africans to find a new term to replace "statesman."
