Liberia, March 20 -- MONROVIA, Liberia-Women's rights activists were jubilant when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became Liberia and Africa's first democratically elected female president in 2005. It was a historic achievement for Liberia and the continent, where women struggle for representation in male-dominated societies.

By R. Joyclyn Wea with New Narratives

But two decades later the number of women holding elected positions in Liberia is going backwards. In the most recent elections, women won just 10.7 percent of seats, a fall from 11 per cent in 2017, which was itself a record low. It is far below the average for Africa, of 26 percent.

"Women are underrepresented in elective office in Liberia-among the lowest in the world," according to ...