Elisabeth Domitien

Elisabeth Domitien (1925 – 26 April 2005) served as the prime minister of the Central African Republic from 1975 to 1976. She was the first and only woman to hold the position, and was the first woman to serve as prime minister of a country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Family background Domitien was born in Lobaye, Ubangi-Shari. The family had a plantation, and her father was employed in the postal service while her mother was a farmer. Early life and career Domitien was the eldest child and the only daughter. She received only rudimentary instruction in reading and writing in a Catholic school and learned cooking and sewing. She spent much of her time working in the field and helped to sell farm products. However, she learned to deal with numbers and established herself as a farmer and business woman. She had a strong personality and was enterprising, making her popular among the village women and an informal leader in the community. At the age of 20 she became involved in the liberation struggle.