2001 - Liberia Elects First Black Female Mayor

On May 20, 2001, Ophelia Hoff Saytumah was elected as the Mayor of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia—becoming the city’s first Black woman to hold the role. Her appointment came during a critical transition period following civil unrest and symbolized a broader push for inclusive governance in post-war Liberia. A former broadcaster and businesswoman, Saytumah used her position to advocate for women\’s leadership, anti-corruption, and city rebuilding. Her election was a significant moment for women’s political participation in West Africa. Liberia, founded by formerly enslaved Africans from the United States, holds a unique place in global Black history. May 20 highlights the role of Black women in rebuilding post-conflict societies and reshaping African urban governance. Saytumah’s leadership helped pave the way for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s historic presidential victory just a few years later. It is a landmark date in the evolution of Black female leadership across the African continent.