Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Time Magazine's 10 Questions for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female head of state in Africa.
Check out her appearance on the Daily Show as well. Her memoir about her extraordinary life is called, This Child Will Be Great.

With the criticisms recently launched against foreign aid programs, do you think Africa is better off without them? Cherae Robinson, ATLANTA [The same issue of Time features Dambisa Moyo, author of Dead Aid, as one of the 100 Most Influential People.]

No, Africa can still use structured, focused aid. The problem is that aid should be properly used. It must support the government's own development agenda. And the country itself should use its own resources well. I think in a few places in Africa, this is happening.

What impact is the trial of Charles Taylor having on Liberia's prospects for peace and stability? Jeremy Waiser FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE [Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, is on trial by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.]

I think Liberians want to put the Taylor era behind them. They want to lead normal lives. They want peace. They're tired of the turmoil that he represented. He's a diminishing figure in Liberia's life.

Image from Vital Voices Global Partnership.