Research Library: Liberia

Last Updated Feb 23, 2006

Country Information

Government

• Republic. Liberia has a strong presidency, a bicameral legislature heavily influenced by the president, and a judicial system also heavily influenced by the executive branch. There is a Supreme Court, criminal courts, and appeals, magistrate, traditional and lay courts in the counties. Trial by ordeal is practiced in certain parts of the country. The town chief is the basic unit of local government.

Political Stability

• Up until 1980, Liberia was largely peaceful. From 1980 and until 1997, Liberia suffered from ethnic conflict and one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars. In 2003, thousands died in three battles for the capital this year and almost half the population has been forced from their homes.
• President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF serves as head of state and government. Liberia also has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Senate with 30 seats and the House of Representatives with 64 seats.
• Former President Taylor has been declared as wanted by the UN for war crimes, and is currently in Nigeria where he is provided assylum.

Current Government Policies

• The transitional government is facing the challenge of diarming about 45,000 fighters (half of them children), and persuading former enemies to work together to rebuild Liberia.
• One of the first actions taken the transitional government was abolishing monopolies on imports of rice and petroleum products, which former president Charles Taylor had awarded.

International Reputation

• Liberia is a founding member of the United Nations. It is a member of the Organization of African Unity, the Economic Community of West African States, the African Development Bank, the Mano River Union and the Non-Aligned Movement.
• In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds, along with an arms embargo due to Liberia's support of the insurgency in Sierra Leone.

Economics

• Before the war, Liberia was a main exporter of iron ore. Since the end of the war, rubber and timber are the main export items.
• Liberia's business sector is controlled by foreigners, mainly of Lebanese and Indian descent. The Oriental Timber Corporation, the largest timber concession, is Indonesian owned.
• Liberia has relied heavily on foreign assistance which has been in decline due to the corrupt nature of the Liberian government and its disregard of human rights.
• Taiwan and Libya are the largest aid donors, but Liberia still receives Western aid through NGOs and international aid organizations.

Foreign Aid

• Liberia is a net recipient of official development assistance. For more information see the OECD Aid at a Glance chart.

Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.

Web Resources

• Liberia - CIA World Factbook
  Added or modified on Mar 12, 2004
• Liberia Past and Present
  Presents the history of Liberia from founding through the present. Also provides links to news sources.
  Added or modified on Mar 05, 2004
• Liberia's Civil War
  Detailed website dealing with the civil war in Liberia from 1996-2003.
  Added or modified on Mar 05, 2004
• The New Democrat
  An independent online news source for Liberia.
  Added or modified on Mar 05, 2004
• UNMIL: UN Mission in Liberia
  Overview of the UN peacekeeping efforts in Liberia and conditions in the country.
  Added or modified on Mar 05, 2004