Who was the first female prime minister in history?

East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975, but was invaded by neighboring Indonesia nine days later (Early in December). In 1976 Indonesia declared it to be an integral part of that country as the 27th province of East Timor (Timor Timur). But Timorese resistance outlasted the rule of Indonesia’s General Suharto, who fell from power in 1998. In a referendum run by the United Nations in 1999, a strong majority of Timorese voted for independence. Despite a wave of violence by pro-Indonesia forces, the UN stepped in and supervised a transition to Timorese self-government in 2002. In April 2002 Xanana Gusmão was elected East Timor’s first president.