Republic of Liberia
Flag Coat of arms
Motto "The love of liberty brought us here"
Anthem All Hail, Liberia, Hail!
Capital (and largest city)		Monrovia 6°19′N, 10°48′W
Official languages		English
Demonym		Liberian
Government		Republic
-	President	Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
-	Vice-President	Joseph Boakai
Formation		by African-Americans
-	ACS colonies    consolidation	1821-1842
-	Independence (from the United States)	26 July 1847
Area
-	Total	111,369 km² (103rd) 43,000 sq mi
-	Water (%)	13.514
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	3,283,000 (132nd)
-	Density	29/km² (174th) 75 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$3.292 billion (158th)
-	Per capita	$1,003 (169th)
FSI (2007)		92.9 6.1 (Alert) (27th)
HDI (1993)		0.311 (low) (n/a)
Currency		Liberian dollar1 (LRD)
Time zone		GMT
Internet TLD		.lr
Calling code		+231
1 United States dollar also in common usage.

Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Atlantic Ocean. Liberia has a hot equatorial climate with most rainfall arriving in summer with harsh harmattan winds in the dry season. Liberia's populated Pepper Coast is comprised of mostly mangrove swamps while the sparse inland is forested, later opening to a plateau of drier grasslands. Since 1989, Liberia has been in a state of flux witnessing two civil wars, the First Liberian Civil War (1989–1996), and the Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003), displacing hundreds of thousands of people and decimating the country's economy. Liberia is the capital of the Guanacaste province in Costa Rica and is located roughly four hours from San José by bus. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liberia. ... Image File history File links Coat_of_arms_of_Liberia. ... Flag ratio: 10:19~ The Liberian flag bears close resemblance to the flag of the United States, showing the ex–American slave origins of the country. ... The Coat of Arms of Liberia consists of a shield containg a picture of 19th century ship arriving in Liberia. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogising the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognised either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... All Hail, Liberia, Hail! is the national anthem of Liberia, lyrics written by Daniel Bashiel Warner (1815-1880) in English, and music by Olmstead Luca (1836-?). Lyrics All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) This glorious land of liberty Shall long be ours. ... Image File history File links LocationLiberia. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... The demographics of Liberia Liberias history as a place set up in 1821 as a colony for free slaves from the United States. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The following is a list of Presidents of the Republic of Liberia, made up of the 24 heads of state in the history of Liberia. ... Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of Liberia and Africas first elected female head of state. ... The Vice-President of Liberia is the second-highest executive official in the Liberian government. ... Joseph Boakai (born November 30, 1944) is the Vice-President elect of Liberia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... The American Colonization Society (in full, The Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America) founded Liberia, a colony on the coast of West Africa in 1817 and transported free blacks there, in an effort to remove them from the United States. ... Year 1821 (MDCCCXXI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... Gross domestic product (by purchasing power parity) in 2006 The purchasing power parity (PPP) theory was developed by Gustav Cassel in 1920. ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita for the year 2006. ... Failed state is a term intended to mean a weak state in which the central government has little practical control over much of its territory. ... Image File history File links Red_Arrow_Down. ... Failed state is a controversial term intended to mean a weak state in which the central government has little practical control over much of its territory. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2006). ... Coloured world map indicating Human Development Index (2006) (colour-blind compliant map) This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Programmes Human Development Report 2006, compiled on the basis of 2004 data. ... The dollar (currency code LRD) has been the currency of Liberia since 1943. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... “GMT” redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .lr is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Liberia. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... USD redirects here. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... The Harmattan is a dry and dusty wind blowing northeast and west off the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between November and March (winter). ... Pepper Coast is the name of a coastal area in western Africa, between Cape Mesurado and Cape Palmas. ... Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ... A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight against each other for the control of political power. ... Combatants Armed Forces of Liberia United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy National Patriotic Front of Liberia Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia Commanders Samuel Doe† Charles Taylor Prince Yormie Johnson The First Liberian Civil War was a conflict in Liberia from 1989 until 1996. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Combatants Armed Forces of Liberia Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy Movement for Democracy in Liberia Commanders Charles Taylor Sekou Conneh Thomas Nimely Casualties 150,000 people killed The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United... This article is about the year. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Etymology

The name Liberia stands for "liberty" or "Land of the Free" as the country was colonized by freed African American slaves in 1822, and founded the country in 1847 with the support of Government of the United States creating a new ethnic group called the Americo-Liberians. ^[1] However, this introduction of a new ethnic mix compounded ethnic tensions with the additional sixteen other main ethnicities.^[2] An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ... ... Americo-Liberians are the relatively wealthy elite of Liberia. ...

History

Main article: History of Liberia

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

Indigenous peoples of West Africa

Anthropological research shows the region of Liberia was inhabited at least as far back as the 12th century perhaps earlier. Mende speaking peoples expanded westward forcing many smaller ethnic groups southward towards the Atlantic sea. The Deys, Bassa, Kru, Gola and Kissi were some of the earliest recorded arrivals. ^[3] This influx of peoples was compounded during the ancient decline of the Western Sudanic Mali Empire in 1375 and later in 1591 with the Songhai Empire. Additionally inland regions underwent desertification and peoples were pressured to move to the wetter Pepper Coast. These new inhabitants brought skills such as cotton spinning, cloth weaving, iron smelting, rice and sorghum cultivation, and social and political institutions from the Mali and Songhay Empires. ^[4] The Mende are a large tribe (population approximately 700,000) living primarily in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. ... The Bassa are a people of Liberia, living in Grand Bassa, Rivercess, and Montserrado counties, who speak the Bassa language, a Kru language. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Gola or Gula are a tribal people living in western Liberia and parts of eastern Sierra Leone. ... Kissi (or Kisi) is a language split into two parts, northern and southern. ... {{Infobox Former // Christine rules Country |native_name = Manden Kurufa |conventional_long_name = Mali Empire |common_name = Mali Empire | |continent = Africa |region = North-West Africa |country = Mali |status = Empire |government_type = Constitutional monarchy | |year_start = 1235 |year_end = 1645 | |event_start = |date_start = |event_end = |date_end = | |event1 = |date_event1 = |event2 = |date_event2 = |event3 = |date_event3 = |event4 = |date_event4 = | |event_pre = |date_pre = |event_post = |date_post = | | |p1 = Ghana Empire... The Songhai Empire, (ca. ... Ship stranded by the retreat of the Aral Sea Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities. ... Pepper Coast is the name of a coastal area in western Africa, between Cape Mesurado and Cape Palmas. ... Species About 30 species, see text Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, some of which are raised for grain and many of which are utilised as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. ...

Shortly after the Manes conquered the region there was a migration of the Vai people into the region of Grand Cape Mount. The Vai were part of the Mali Empire that were forced to migrate when the empire collapsed in the fourteenth century. The Vai chose to migrate to the coastal region. The Vai are an ethnic group living in Liberia and Sierra Leone. ... {{Infobox Former // Christine rules Country |native_name = Manden Kurufa |conventional_long_name = Mali Empire |common_name = Mali Empire | |continent = Africa |region = North-West Africa |country = Mali |status = Empire |government_type = Constitutional monarchy | |year_start = 1235 |year_end = 1645 | |event_start = |date_start = |event_end = |date_end = | |event1 = |date_event1 = |event2 = |date_event2 = |event3 = |date_event3 = |event4 = |date_event4 = | |event_pre = |date_pre = |event_post = |date_post = | | |p1 = Ghana Empire...

The ethnic Kru opposed the migration of the Vai into their region. An alliance of the Manes and Kru were able to stop the further migration of the Vai but the Vai remained in the Grand Cape Mount region (where the city of Robertsport is now located). This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Robertsport is a town in western Liberia, on a peninsula separated from the mainland by Lake Piso. ...

Littoral coast peoples built canoes and traded with other West Africans from Cap-Vert to the Gold Coast, later European traders would barter various commodities and goods with local peoples sometimes hoisting their canoes aboard. When the Kru began trading with Europeans, they initially traded in non-slave commodities but later became active participants in the African slave trade. A littoral is the region near the shoreline of a body of fresh or salt water. ... The peninsula of Cap-Vert (Cape Verde, meaning green point) is the westernmost part of the continent of Africa. ... Gold Coast may refer to: // Gold Coast (British colony), British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa Brandenburger Gold Coast, former German colony Danish Gold Coast, former Danish colony Dutch Gold Coast, former Dutch colony Portuguese Gold Coast, former Portuguese colony Swedish Gold Coast, former Swedish colony Gold... It has been suggested that Impact of Slave Trade on Africa be merged into this article or section. ...

Kru laborers left their territory to work on plantations and in construction as paid laborers, some even worked building the Suez and Panama Canals. A sugarcane plantation at Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, 2005 A plantation is a large tract of monoculture, as a tree plantation, a cotton plantation, a tea plantation or a tobacco plantation. ... For other uses, see Suez (disambiguation). ... Two Panamax running the Miraflores Locks The Panama Canal (Spanish: ) is a major ship canal that traverses the Isthmus of Panama in Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. ...

Another tribal group in the area was the Glebo. The Glebo were driven, as a result of the Manes invasion, to migrate to the coast of what later became Liberia. The name Grebo is used to refer to an ethnic group or subgroup within the larger Kru group of West Africa, to certain of its constituent elements, or to the Grebo language. ...

Settlers from America

In 1821, the American Colonization Society established Liberia as a place to send freed African-American slaves. African-Americans gradually immigrated to the colony and became known as Americo-Liberians, where many present day Liberians trace their ancestry. On July 26, 1847, the Americo-Liberian settlers declared the independence of the Republic of Liberia. The American Colonization Society (in full, The Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America) founded Liberia, a colony on the coast of West Africa in 1817 and transported free blacks there, in an effort to remove them from the United States. ... Americo-Liberians are a Liberian ethnicity of African American descent. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

The settlers regarded Africa as a "Promised Land", but they did not integrate into an African society. Once in Africa, they referred to themselves as "Americans" and were recognized as such by local Africans and by British colonial authorities in neighbouring Sierra Leone. The symbols of their state — its flag, motto, and seal — and the form of government that they chose reflected their American background and diaspora experience. Lincoln University (founded as Ashmun Institute for educating young blacks in Pennsylvania in 1854) played an important role in supplying Americo-Liberians leadership for the new Nation. The first graduating class of Lincoln University, James R. Amos, his brother Thomas H. Amos, and Armistead Miller sailed for Liberia on the brig Mary C. Stevens in April, 1859 after graduation. Main article: Land of Israel The Kingdom of David and Solomon. ... For other uses, see Diaspora (disambiguation). ... Lincoln University in Pennsylvania is a four-year university on 350 acres in southern Chester County and a Center for Graduate Studies in Philadelphia. ... For other uses, see Nation (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Brigantine. ...

Indigenous Liberian women in 1910.

The religious practices, social customs and cultural standards of the Americo-Liberians had their roots in the antebellum American South. These ideals strongly influenced the attitudes of the settlers toward the indigenous African people. The new nation, as they perceived it, was coextensive with the settler community and with those Africans who were assimilated into it. Mutual mistrust and hostility between the "Americans" along the coast and the "Natives" of the interior was a recurrent theme in the country's history, along with (usually successful) attempts by the Americo-Liberian minority to dominate people whom they considered uncivilized and inferior. They named the land "Liberia," which in Romance languages, and in Latin in particular, means "Land of the Free," as an homage to their freedom from slavery. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 565 pixelsFull resolution (1088 × 769 pixel, file size: 385 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 565 pixelsFull resolution (1088 × 769 pixel, file size: 385 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Antebellum is a Latin word meaning before war(ante means before and bellum is war). ... The U.S. Southern states or The South, known during the American Civil War era as Dixie, is a distinctive region of the United States with its own unique historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ... A family of Russian settlers in the Caucasus region, ca. ... Cultural assimilation (often called merely assimilation) is an intense process of consistent integration whereby members of an ethno-cultural group, typically immigrants, or other minority groups, are absorbed into an established, generally larger community. ...

Joseph Jenkins Roberts, First President of Liberia

Historically, Liberia has enjoyed the support and unofficial cooperation of the United States government ^[5]. Liberia’s government, modeled after that of the United States, was democratic in structure, if not always in substance. After 1877 the True Whig Party monopolized political power in the country, and competition for office was usually contained within the party, whose nomination virtually ensured election. Two problems confronting successive administrations were pressure from neighboring colonial powers, Britain and France, and the threat of financial insolvency, both of which challenged the country’s sovereignty. Liberia retained its independence during the Scramble for Africa, but lost its claim to extensive territories that were annexed by Britain and France. Economic development was retarded by the decline of markets for Liberian goods in the late nineteenth century and by indebtedness on a series of loans, payments on which drained the economy. Image File history File links Joseph_Jenkins_Roberts. ... Image File history File links Joseph_Jenkins_Roberts. ... Joseph Jenkins Roberts (March 15, 1809 â€“ February 24, 1876) was the first President of Liberia (1848–1856, 1872–1876). ... The True Whig, also known as Liberian Whig Party, was Liberias only legal political party for over 100 years, from 1878 to the coup detat of 1980. ... Cecil Rhodes: Cape-Cairo railway project. ...

President Edwin Barclay (right) and President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, 1943

Image File history File links Roosevelt_and_Barclay. ... Image File history File links Roosevelt_and_Barclay. ... Edwin James Barclay (1882-1955) was a Liberian politician. ... FDR redirects here. ...

Significant mid-twentieth century events

Two events were of particular importance in releasing Liberia from its self-imposed isolation. The first was the grant in 1926 of a large concession to the American-owned Firestone Plantation Company; that move became a first step in the (limited) modernization of the Liberian economy. The second occurred during World War II, when the United States began providing technical and economic assistance that enabled Liberia to make economic progress and introduce social change. The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. ... Economy - overview: A civil war in 1989-96 destroyed much of Liberias economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

In a late night raid on April 12, 1980, a successful military coup was staged by a group of noncommissioned Krahn officers led by Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe. They killed William R. Tolbert, Jr. in his mansion. He had been president for nine years. Constituting themselves the People’s Redemption Council, Doe and his associates seized control of the government and brought an end to Africa’s first republic. Significantly, Doe was the first Liberian head of state who was not a member of the Americo-Liberian elite. In the early 1980s, the United States provided Liberia more than $500 million for pushing the Soviet Union out of the country, and for providing the US exclusive rights to use Liberia's ports and land (including allowing the CIA to use Liberian territory to spy on Libya). is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... Krahn is an ethnic group of Liberia; it is also the language traditionally spoken by these people. ... Samuel Kanyon Doe (May 6, 1950/1951–September 9, 1990) was the president of the West African country of Liberia from 1980 to 1990. ... William Richard Tolbert, Jr. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ...

Doe favored authoritarian policies, banning newspapers and outlawing various opposition parties. His tactic was to brand popular opposition parties as "socialist", and therefore illegal according to the Liberian constitution, while allowing less popular minor parties to remain as a token opposition. Unfortunately for Doe, popular support would then tend to realign behind one of these smaller parties, causing them to be labeled "socialist" in their turn. The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against the population, generally without attempts at gaining the consent of the population. ...

In October 1985, Liberia held the first post-coup elections, ostensibly to legitimize Doe's regime. Virtually all international observers agreed that the Liberia Action Party (LAP) led by Jackson Doe (no relation) had won the election by a clear margin. After a week of counting the votes, however, Samuel Doe fired the count officials and replaced them with his own Special Election Committee (SECOM), which announced that Samuel Doe's ruling National Democratic Party of Liberia had won with 50.9% of the vote. In response, on November 12th, a counter-coup was launched by Thomas Quiwonkpa, whose soldiers briefly occupied the Executive Mansion and the national radio station, with widespread support throughout the country. Three days later, Quiwonkpa's coup was overthrown. Following this failed coup, government repression intensified, as Doe's troops killed more than 2000 civilians and imprisoned more than 100 opposing politicians, including Jackson Doe, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and BBC journalist Isaac Bantu. Thomas Quiwonkpa, a Gio from Nimba County, was a Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia and founder of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia. ... Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of Liberia and Africas first elected female head of state. ...

1989 and 1999 civil wars

In late 1989, a civil war began. The harsh dictatorial atmosphere that gripped the country was due in large part to Sergeant Samuel Doe's rule. An Americo-Liberian named Charles Taylor with the backing of neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire invaded Liberia. These troops gained high levels of support with the local population who were disillusioned with their present government. A large section of the country came under the invaders' control as a result. By this time a new player had also emerged. Yormie Prince Johnson (former ally of Taylor) had formed his own army and had gained tremendous support from the Grio and Mano ethnic groups. Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Combatants Armed Forces of Liberia United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy National Patriotic Front of Liberia Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia Commanders Samuel Doe† Charles Taylor Prince Yormie Johnson The First Liberian Civil War was a conflict in Liberia from 1989 until 1996. ... For other persons named Charles Taylor, see Charles Taylor (disambiguation). ...

In August 1990, the Economic Community Monitoring Group under the Economic Community of West African States organized its own military task force to intervene in the crisis. The troops were largely from Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana with some financial support from the U.S. After the meeting and on his way out, Doe who was traveling only with his personal staff, was ambushed and captured by forces loyal to Prince Yormie Johnson. The soldiers took him to the headquarters of Johnson in neighboring Caldwell, tortured and killed him. Map of ECOMOG members as of 2005. ... The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded on May 28, 1975 when fifteen West African countries signed the Treaty of Lagos. ...

By 1990 September 1990 Doe's forces controlled only a small area just outside the capital of Monrovia. Doe was ousted and killed by the forces of faction leader Yormie Johnson and members of the Gio Tribe. As a condition for the end of the conflict, interim president Amos Sawyer resigned in 1994, handing power to the Council of State. Prominent warlord Charles G. Taylor was elected as President in 1997, after leading a bloody insurgency backed by Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi. Taylor's brutal regime targeted several leading opposition and political activists. In 1998, the government sought to assassinate child rights activist Kimmie Weeks for a report he had published on its involvement in the training of child soldiers, which forced him into exile. Taylor's autocratic and dysfunctional government led to a new rebellion in 1999. More than 200,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the civil wars. The conflict intensified in mid-2003, and the fighting moved into Monrovia. As the power of the government shrank and with increasing international and American pressure for him to resign, President Taylor accepted an asylum offer from Nigeria, but vowed: "God willing, I will be back." His statement was proved prophetic on March 29, 2006, when he was extradited from Nigeria. He is expected to face 17 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity before a United Nations tribunal holding proceedings in the Hague to address alleged crimes committed during the brutal civil war. 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prince Yormie Johnson is a Liberian political figure. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Amos Sawyer (born 1945) was the President of the Interim Government of National Unity in Liberia (November 22, 1990–March 7, 1994). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... For other persons named Charles Taylor, see Charles Taylor (disambiguation). ... Liberia held Presidential and Legislative elections on 19 July 1997 following an end to a bloody civil war that devastated the country. ... Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qaddafi 1 (Arabic: معمر القذافي Mu`ammar al-Qadhdhāfī) (born 1942), leader of Libya since 1970 and a controversial Arab statesman. ... Kimmie Weeks Kimmie Weeks (December 6, 1981) is the founder of Youth Action International, a Non-governmental organization. ... Combatants Armed Forces of Liberia Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy Movement for Democracy in Liberia Commanders Charles Taylor Sekou Conneh Thomas Nimely Casualties 150,000 people killed The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United... This article is about the year. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ...

Transitional government and elections

After the exile of Taylor, Gyude Bryant was appointed Chairman of the transitional government in late 2003. Because of failures of the Transitional Government in curbing corruption, Liberia signed onto GEMAP a novel anti-corruption program. The primary task of the transitional government was to prepare for fair and peaceful democratic elections. With UNMIL troops safeguarding the peace, Liberia successfully conducted presidential elections in the fall of 2005. Twenty three candidates stood for the October 11, 2005 general election, with the early favorite George Weah, internationally famous footballer, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and member of the Kru ethnic group expected to dominate the popular vote. No candidate took the required majority in the general election, so that a run-off between the top two vote getters, Weah and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, was necessary. The November 8, 2005 presidential runoff election was won decisively by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a Harvard-trained economist. Both the general election and runoff were marked by peace and order, with thousands of Liberians waiting patiently in the Liberian heat to cast their ballots. Gyude Bryant Charles Gyude Bryant (born January 17, 1949) was the Chairman of the Transitional Government of Liberia from October 14, 2003 until January 16, 2006. ... The Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP) is an effort by the Liberian government and the international community, via the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) to reshape the fundamentally broken system of governance that contributed to 23 years of conflict in Liberia. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah (born October 1, 1966 in Monrovia[1]) is a Liberian politician and former football forward. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of Liberia and Africas first elected female head of state. ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ...

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf presidency

Daughter of the first indigenous Liberian to be elected to the national legislature, Jahmale Carney Johnson, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was born in rural Liberia. Widely celebrated for being the first elected female head of state in Africa, Johnson-Sirleaf’s election focused much international attention on Liberia. A former Citibank and World Bank employee, Johnson-Sirleaf’s career also includes heading the U.N. Development Programme for Africa [5]. Johnson-Sirleaf was jailed twice during the Doe administration before escaping and going into exile. As president, Johnson-Sirleaf hopes to bring her credentials as an economist to bear and enlist the help of the international community in rebuilding Liberia’s economy and infrastructure. As of this writing, she is working to have Liberia’s external debt of $3.5 billion cancelled, and is inviting international investment. She has extended a special invitation to the Nigerian business community to participate in business opportunities in Liberia, in part as thanks for Nigeria’s help in securing Liberia’s peace. Exiled Liberians are also investing in the country and participating in Liberia's rebuilding efforts. Citibank is a major international bank, founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. ... The World Bank (the Bank), a part of the World Bank Group (WBG), was formally established on December 27, 1945, following the ratification of the Bretton Woods agreement. ...

In addition to focusing her early efforts to restore basic services like water and electricity to the capital of Monrovia, Johnson-Sirleaf has established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission [6] to address crimes committed during the later stages of Liberia's long civil war. She is also working to re-establish Liberia's food independence. Johnson-Sirleaf also requested that Nigeria extradite accused war criminal and profiteer Charles Taylor. The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is a Parliament-enacted organization created in May 2005 in order to investigate and report on gross human rights violations that occured in Liberia between January 1979 and 14 October 2003. ... For other persons named Charles Taylor, see Charles Taylor (disambiguation). ...

Human rights situation

Amnesty International summarizes in its Annual Report 2006: "Sporadic outbreaks of violence continued to threaten prospects of peace. Former rebel fighters who should have been disarmed and demobilized protested violently when they did not receive benefits. Slow progress in reforming the police, judiciary and the criminal justice system resulted in systematic violations of due process and vigilante violence against criminal suspects. Laws establishing an Independent National Commission on Human Rights and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission were adopted. Over 200,000 internally displaced people and refugees returned to their homes, although disputes over land and property appropriated during the war raised ethnic tensions. UN sanctions on the trade in diamonds and timber were renewed. Those responsible for human rights abuses during the armed conflict continued to enjoy impunity. The UN Security Council gave peacekeeping forces in Liberia powers to arrest former President Taylor and transfer him to the Special Court for Sierra Leone if he should return from Nigeria, where he continued to receive asylum. Liberia made a commitment to abolish capital punishment. A new law on rape, which initially proposed imposition of the death penalty for gang rape, was amended to provide a maximum penalty of life imprisonment." ^  [7] Former 22nd president Charles Taylor was captured trying to escape across the border of Cameroon and has been sent to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for trial. Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ... Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. ... Charles Taylor may refer to: // Charles G. Taylor (born 1948), a former president of Liberia and Bentley College graduate Charles Taylor (Texas) (1805–1865), signer of Texas Declaration of Independence [1] Charles John Taylor, New Zealand politician of the 1850s Charles Taylor (UK politician) (1910–1989), British politician and MP... Official logo of the ICC. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ... Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 98. ...

Politics and Government

Main article: Politics of Liberia

Liberia has a dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary unwritten law for the native sector for exclusively rural tribes. ^[6] Liberia's modern sector has three equal branches of government in the constitution, though in practice the executive branch headed by President of Liberia is the strongest of the three. Following the dissolution of the Republican Party in 1876, the True Whig Party dominated the Liberian government until the 1980 coup. Currently, no party has majority control of the legislature. The longest serving president in Liberian history was William Tubman, serving from 1944 until his death in 1971. The shortest term was held by James Skivring Smith, who controlled the government all of two months. However, the political process from Liberia's founding in 1847, despite widespread corruption, was very stable until the end of the First Republic in 1980. Politics of Liberia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... See Anglo-America for the term denoting mixed English and American influence or heritage or those parts of (or groups within) America which have a tie to or which are influenced by England or simply English-speaking America. ... This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... The following is a list of Presidents of the Republic of Liberia, made up of the 24 heads of state in the history of Liberia. ... The Republican Party of Liberia was a political party founded soon after the founding of Liberia in 1848. ... Year 1876 Pick up Sticks(MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The True Whig, also known as Liberian Whig Party, was Liberias only legal political party for over 100 years, from 1878 to the coup detat of 1980. ... William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (November 29, 1895 – July 23, 1971) was President of Liberia from 1944 until his death in 1971. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... James Skivring Smith was the interim President of Liberia from November 4, 1871 to January 1, 1872 when Joseph Jenkins Roberts was elected. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Counties and districts

Main articles: Counties of Liberia and Districts of Liberia

Liberia is divided into 15 counties, which are subdivided into districts. The counties are: There are 15 counties in Liberia, as of 2005. ... Liberias 15 counties are subdivided into districts. ... There are 15 counties in Liberia, as of 2005. ... Districts are a form of local government in several countries. ...

Bomi is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Bong is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Gbarpolu is the youngest of Liberia’s 15 counties, having being created in 2001. ... Grand Bassa is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Grand Cape Mount is the westernmost Liberian county. ... Grand Gedeh is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Grand Kru is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Lofa is the northernmost Liberian county. ... Margibi is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... The southern and eastern most county of Liberias 13 counties*, Maryland County shares a border with Cote dIvoire. ... Montserrado County is on the coast of Liberia near the north-western end. ... Nimba county is in the north region of Liberia, sharing borders with Ivory Coast and Guinea. ... Rivercess (sometimes spelled River Cess) is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... River Gee is one of 15 counties of Liberia. ... Sinoe County encompasses an originally autonomous freed-slave colony known as Mississippi in Africa, which was founded prior to Liberias declaration of independence from the American Colonization Society. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Liberia

Liberia is situated in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean to the countries southwest. The landscape is characterized by mostly flat to rolling coastal plains, which rise to a rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast. The equatorial climate is hot year-round with heavy rainfall from May to October with a short two-week interlude in August. During the winter months of November to March dry dust-laden harmattan winds blow inland causing many problems for residents. map of Liberia, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Liberia Geography of Liberia Eric Gilder (professor) Mount Wuteve Cuttington University College Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Liberia is a small Sub-Saharan nation in West Africa located at 6 30°N, 9 30°W. The country is shaped like a rectangle, with a shape similar to El Salvador. ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... The Harmattan is a dry and dusty wind blowing northeast and west off the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between November and March (winter). ...

Liberia's watershed tends to move in a southwestern pattern towards the sea as new rains move down the forested plateau off of the inland mountain range of Guinée Forestière, in Guinea. The country's main northwestern boundary is traversed by the Mano River while its southeast limits are bounded by the river Cavalla. Liberia's three largest rivers are St. Paul exiting near Monrovia, the river St. John at Buchanan and the Cestos River, all of which flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Guinée Forestière is a forested mountain range in south eastern Guinea, flowing into north eastern Sierra Leone. ... The Saint Paul River is a river of western Africa. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... Buchanan is the surname of: Barry Buchanan (born 1968), professional wrestler (Bull Buchanan) Bay Buchanan, sister to Pat Buchanan, President of The American Cause Claudius Buchanan (1766-1815), English divine Edgar Buchanan, American actor Francis Buchanan, (1762-1829), Scottish surgeon, geographer and naturalist Franklin Buchanan (1800-1874), Confederate admiral George...

Liberia's highest point is Mount Wuteve at 1440 meters (4,724 feet) above sea level in the northwestern Liberia range of the West Africa Mountains and the Guinea Highlands. However, Mount Nimba near Yekepa, is taller at 1,752 meters (5,748 feet) above sea level but is not wholly within Liberia as Nimba shares a border with Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire and is their tallest mountain as well. A map of Liberia showing Wuteve in the north. ... Mount Nimba is a mountain along the border of Côte dIvoire and Guinea in West Africa. ... Yekepa is a town in northern Liberia, lying near the Guinean border. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Liberia

Historically, the Liberian economy depended heavily on drugs and alcohol, foreign direct investment, as well as the export of other of its natural resources, such as marajuana. Foreign trade was primarily conducted for the benefit of the Americo-Liberian elite, with trade between foreigners and indigenous Liberians severely restricted throughout most of its history by the 1864 Ports of Entry Act. Little foreign direct investment benefited the 95% majority population, who were often subjected to forced labor on foreign concessions. Liberian law often did not protect indigenous Liberians from the extraction of rents and arbitrary taxation, with the majority surviving on subsistence farming and low wage work on foreign concessions. Economy - overview: A civil war in 1989-96 destroyed much of Liberias economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. ...

While official export figures for commodities declined during the 1990’s civil war as many investors fled, Liberia’s wartime economy featured the exploitation of the region’s drug wealth, with the country acting as a major trader in Liberian, Sierra Leonian and Angolan conflict diamonds, exporting over $300 million in diamonds annually. More recently, the UN ban on Liberian diamond exports as well as the enforcement of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme by international diamond traders has effectively shut down Liberia’s diamond industry, (although there were fears that foreign traders are hoarding the country’s diamonds during the ban). On April 27, 2007 the UN voted unanimously to rescind the ban in recognition of advances in Liberian efforts to ensure that diamonds are mined legally. A conflict diamond (also called a blood diamond) is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold, usually clandestinely, in order to finance an insurgent or invading armys war efforts. ... The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is a process designed to certify the origin of diamonds from sources which are free of conflict. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Drug exports continued during the war, in part due to illicit agreements struck between Liberia’s warlords and foreign concessionaires. Looting and war profiteering destroyed nearly the entire infrastructure of the country, such that the Monrovian capital was without running water and electricity (except for fuel-powered generators) by the time the first elected post-war government began to institute development and reforms in 2006. Although some official exporting and legitimate business activity resumed once the hostilities ended (for instance, Liberia signed a new deal with steel giant Mittal for the export of iron ore in summer 2005), as of mid-2006 Liberia is dependent on foreign aid, and carries a debt overhang of $3.5 billion. Mittal Steel Company N.V. (Euronext: MT, NYSE: MT) is the worlds largest steel producer by volume, and also the largest in turnover. ...

Liberia currently has an approximate 85% unemployment rate, the second highest in the world.

Nineteenth-century Liberian two-dollar bill.

The Liberia dollar currently trades against the US dollar at a ratio of 57:61. Liberia used the US dollar as its currency from 1963 until it reversed dollarization in 1982. Its external debt ($3.5 billion) is huge in comparison to its GDP (approx $2.5 billion/year); it annually imports approximately $4.839 billion in goods while it exports only about $910 million. Inflation is falling, but still significant (dropping from 15% in 2003 to 4.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2005); interest rates are high, with the average lending rate listed by the Central Bank of Liberia at 87.6% for 3rd quarter 2005 (although the average time deposit rate was only .4%, and CD rate only .5%, barely keeping pace with inflation). It continues to suffer with poor economic performance due to a fragile security situation, the devastation wrought by its long war, its lack of infrastructure, and necessary human capital to help the country recover from the scourges of conflict and corruption. Image File history File links Liberiancurrency. ... Image File history File links Liberiancurrency. ...

In 2005, a lawsuit was brought by the International Labour Rights Fund against the company Bridgestone/Firestone for its alleged role in using child labour in its rubber plantations in Liberia and abusing the environment. Workers also briefly staged a strike at the company’s million-acre (4,000 km²) plantation at Harbel in early 2006, but the strike could not be sustained by the poorly funded labour union. However, an international campaign called Stop Firestone is actively campaigning to pressure the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company to change its policies. The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. ...

Liberia has one of the world's largest national registries of drugs, due to its status as a sex pole.

According to the managing-director of Liberia's National Port Authority, Togba Ngangana, Chinese investors have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a manufacturing zone outside the southern port of Buchanan which would produce 50,000 jobs. This is in addition to an undisclosed amount of low-interest loans, debt relief and other incentives.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Liberia

The population of over 3 million comprises 16 indigenous ethnic groups and various foreign minorities. Indigenous peoples comprise about 95% of the population, the largest of which are the Kpelle in central and western Liberia. Americo-Liberians, who are descendants of freed slaves that arrived in Liberia as of 1821, make up an estimated 5% of the population, of whom half from US origin and half from the Caribbean. There also is a sizable number of Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals who make up a significant part of Liberia's business community. A few whites (estimated at 18,000 in 1999; probably fewer now) reside in the country. The demographics of Liberia Liberias history as a place set up in 1821 as a colony for free slaves from the United States. ... The Kpelle are the largest ethnic group of the West African nation of Liberia. ... “West Indian” redirects here. ...

As of 2006, Liberia has the highest population growth rate in the world (4.91%). Similar to its neighbors, it has a large youth population.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Liberia

Liberia was traditionally noted for its hospitality, academic institutions, cultural skills, and arts/craft works— Liberia has a long, rich history in textile arts and quilting. The free and former US slaves who emigrated to Liberia brought with them their sewing and quilting skills. The 1843 Liberian census indicated a variety of occupations, including hatter, milliner, seamstress and tailor. Liberia hosted National Fairs in 1857 and 1858 in which prizes were awarded for various needle arts. One of the most well-known Liberian quilters was Martha Ann Ricks, who presented a quilt featuring the famed Liberian coffee tree to Queen Victoria in 1892. The culture of Liberia reflects this nations diverse ethnicities and long history. ...

In modern times, Liberian presidents would present quilts as official government gifts. The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum collection includes a cotton quilt by Mrs. Jemima Parker which has portraits of both Liberian president William Tubman and JFK. Zariah Wright-Titus founded the Arthington (Liberia) Women's Self-Help Quilting Club (1987). In the early 1990s, Kathleen Bishop documented examples of appliquéd Liberian quilts. When current Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf moved into the Executive Mansion, she had a Liberian-made quilt in her presidential office, according to one report. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of Liberia and Africas first elected female head of state. ...

Education

See also: Category:Education in Liberia

The University of Liberia is located in Monrovia. Opened in 1862, it is one of Africa's oldest institutes of higher learning. Civil war severely damaged the university in the 1990s, but the university has begun to rebuild following the restoration of peace. The University of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia is the oldest instituition of higher learning in West Africa. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... This article is about 1862 . ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Cuttington University was established by the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA) in 1889; its campus is currently located in Suakoko, Bong County (120 miles north of Monrovia). Cuttington University is a university in Liberia, formerly of Cape Palmas (1889-1929), now of Suacoco (1948-present). ... The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Washington DC is the National Cathedral of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Bong is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ...

According to statistics published by UNESCO for 2004 65% of primary-school age and 24% of secondary-school age children were enrolled in school^[7]. This is a significant increase on previous years, the statistics also show substantial numbers of older children going back to earlier school years. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... A primary school in Český Těšín, Poland Primary education is the first stage of compulsory education. ... Secondary education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Famous Liberians

• American NFL football players: Thomas W. Sieh, Ashton Youboty, Tamba Hali, Bhawoh Jue, Martin Coleman, Tim Massaquoi, and Thomas Tapeh, Matthew Shaughnessy.
• Football players: Christopher Wreh, Louis Crayton, Jimmy Dixon, Willis Forko, Zizi Roberts and Aaron Paye
• George Weah, football player turned politician.
• Hans-Jürgen Massaquoi, journalist/author (Jet and Ebony magazines).
• Momolu V.O. Sirleaf, journalist and former president of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia

Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Tamba Hali is currently a defensive end for the Penn State Nittany Lions. ... Bhawoh Papi Jue (born May 24, 1979 in Monrovia, Liberia) is an NFL free safety for the San Diego Chargers. ... Martin Isaac Coleman Jr. ... Tim Massaquoi is an american football tight-end who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the last round of the 2006 NFL Draft. ... Thomas Tapeh is a National Foootball League Full Back for the Philadelphia Eagles. ... Christopher Wreh (born May 14, 1975 in Monrovia) is a Liberian footballer. ... Louis Crayton (born 26 October 1977 in Bong Mines, Liberia) is a Liberian football (soccer) player who currently plays goalkeeper for FC Basel of the Swiss Super League. ... Jimmy Dixon (born October 10, 1981 in Bomi County, Liberia) is a Liberian football central defender who plays for Malmö FF, for whom he recently signed from BK Häcken. ... Willis Forko (born November 12, 1983 in Monrovia, Liberia) is an American soccer player, who currently plays for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. ... Zizi Roberts (born June 13, 1979 in Monrovia, Liberia) is a Liberian soccer player, who last played striker for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. ... Aaron Paye (born January 19, 1981 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota) is a striker currently playing for American USL First Division side Minnesota Thunder. ... George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah (born October 1, 1966 in Monrovia[1]) is a Liberian politician and former football forward. ... Hans-Jürgen Massaquoi (born January 19, 1926) is a (naturalized) American journalist and author. ... Jet magazine is a popular African-American publication founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company. ... Ebony, a magazine for the African American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has been published since the autumn of 1945. ...

See also

The Boy Scouts of Liberia, the national Scouting organization of Liberia, was founded in 1922, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1965. ... Telephones - main lines in use: 6,700 (2000) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1998) Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Cellular Phone Networks: 2 (2005) Lonestar (GSM 900) Omega Communications (GSM 900... Liberian foreign relations were traditionally stable and cordial throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries. ... George Henry Andrews (1926-1997), former Liberian sports journalist and later minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Liberia. ... The Republic of Liberia was founded by free American slaves of African origin who formed the American Colonization Society and returned to establish a republic on African soil. ... Lincoln University in Pennsylvania is a four-year University located on 350 acres in southern Chester County. ... This page aims to list articles on Wikipedia that are related to Liberia. ... The following is a list of Presidents of the Republic of Liberia, made up of the 24 heads of state in the history of Liberia. ... Lott Cary (1780-1828) was an African American slave, born in Charles City County, Virginia. ... The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is the military of Liberia. ... The music of Liberia involves several different genres. ... Sande is a womens association found in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea that initiates girls into adulthood, confers fertility, instills notions of morality and proper sexual comportment, and maintains an interest in the well-being of its members throughout their lives. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require rewriting and/or reformatting. ...

References

Gilbert Erik & Reynolds Jonathon T. Africa in World History, From Prehistory to the Present,Pearson Education Canada Ltd 2004 pg 357

Further reading

• Great Tales of Liberia by Wilton Sankawulo. Dr. Sankawulo is the compiler of these tales from Liberia and about Liberian culture. Published by Editura Universitatii "Lucian Blaga";; din Sibiu, Romania, 2004. - ISBN 973-651-838-8
• Sundown at Dawn: A Liberian Odyssey by Wilton Sankawulo. Recommended by the Cultural Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics for its content concerning Liberian culture. ISBN 0-9763565-0-3
• http://www.analystliberia.com/featurearticle_aug20_07.html
• http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/07/23/twih.liberia/index.html
• Mississippi in Africa: The Saga of the Slaves of Prospect Hill Plantation and Their Legacy in Liberia Today, by Alan Huffman (Gotham Books, 2004)
• Education For Freedom - A History of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania by Horace Mann Bond. Copyright 1976 by Lincoln University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education of Pennsylvania. Printed by Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.
• To Liberia: Destiny's Timing, by Victoria Lang (Publish America, Baltimore, 2004, ISBN 1-4137-1829-9). A fast-paced gripping novel of the journey of a young Black couple fleeing America to settle in the African motherland of Liberia.
• Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria, by Kyra E. Hicks (Brown Books, 2007, ISBN 978-1-933285-59-7). Heart-warming true story of a young slave girl's fifty year quest to sail from Liberia to England to thank the Queen, despite many challenges.
• The Mask of Anarchy Updated Edition, by Stephen Ellis (NYU Press,2006, ISBN 0814722385).
• The Darling, by Russell Banks(Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005 ISBN 0747578907)compelling well worth reading - thought provoking

External links

• allAfrica.com - Liberia news headlines
• Liberia travel guide from Wikitravel
• Cuttington Chronicle - Student Newspaper of Cuttington University in Suakoko, Liberia
• Johnson-Sirleaf presidential speeches from CSPAN
• Liberian Law - Cornell Law Library - contains digitized documents dealing with the creation of the nation of Liberia and the laws enacted at its foundation, as well as extensive links for further research

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v • d • e Kordofanian  Sudan v • d • e Mande  Gambia  Guinea President Fernando Henrique Cardoso speaks at the ZPCAS Summit held in Brasília. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Angola. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cameroon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cape_Verde. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_the_Congo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Motto Unity, Discipline and Labour(translation) Anthem LAbidjanaise Capital Yamoussoukro (de jure) Abidjan (de facto) Largest city Abidjan Official languages French Government Republic  -  President Laurent Gbagbo[1]  -  Prime Minister Guillaume Soro[1] Independence from France   -  Date August 7, 1960  Area  -  Total 322,460 km² (68th) 124,502 sq mi... Image File history File links Flag_of_Equatorial_Guinea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Gabon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_The_Gambia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ghana. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea-Bissau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liberia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Namibia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sao_Tome_and_Principe. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Senegal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sierra_Leone. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uruguay. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Anthem Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together [1] Administrative Centre Largest city Cairo, Egypt Working languages Arabic English French Portuguese Swahili Membership 53 African states Leaders  -  Chairman John Kufuor  -  Alpha Oumar Konaré Establishment  -  as the OAU May 25, 1963   -  as the African Union July 9, 2002  Area  -  Total 29... Motto Unité, Progrès, Justice(French) Unity, Progress, Justice Anthem Une Seule Nuit(French) One Single Night Capital (and largest city) Ouagadougou Official languages French Demonym Burkinabe Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Blaise Compaoré  -  Prime Minister Tertius Zongo Independence from France   -  Date August 5, 1960  Area  -  Total 274,000 km... Anthem Cântico da Liberdade Capital (and largest city) Praia Official languages Portuguese Recognised regional languages Cape Verdean Creole Government Republic  -  President Pedro Pires  -  Prime Minister José Maria Neves Independence from Portugal   -  Recognized July 5, 1975  Area  -  Total 4,033 km² (172nd) 1,557 sq mi   -  Water (%) negligible Population  -  July... Motto Unité, Dignité, Travail(French) Unity, Dignity, Work Anthem La Renaissance(French) E Zingo(Sango) Capital (and largest city) Bangui Official languages Sango, French Government Republic  -  President François Bozizé  -  Prime Minister Élie Doté Independence from France   -  Date August 13, 1960  Area  -  Total 622,984 km² (43rd) 240,534 sq... Motto Justice – Paix – Travail(French) Justice – Peace – Work Anthem Debout Congolais Capital (and largest city) Kinshasaa Official languages French Recognised regional languages Lingala, Kongo/Kituba, Swahili, Tshiluba Demonym Congolese Government Semi-Presidential Republic  -  President Joseph Kabila  -  Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga Independence  -  from Belgium June 30, 1960  Area  -  Total 2,344... Motto Unité, Travail, Progrès(French) Unity, Work, Progress Anthem La Congolaise Capital (and largest city) Brazzaville Official languages French Government Republic  -  President Denis Sassou Nguesso  -  Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba Independence from France   -  Date 15 August 1960  Area  -  Total 342,000 km² (64th) 132,047 sq mi   -  Water (%) 3. ... Motto Unity, Discipline and Labour(translation) Anthem LAbidjanaise Capital Yamoussoukro (de jure) Abidjan (de facto) Largest city Abidjan Official languages French Government Republic  -  President Laurent Gbagbo[1]  -  Prime Minister Guillaume Soro[1] Independence from France   -  Date August 7, 1960  Area  -  Total 322,460 km² (68th) 124,502 sq mi... Motto Unidad, Paz, Justicia(Spanish) Unity, Peace, Justice Anthem Caminemos pisando la senda Capital (and largest city) Malabo Official languages Spanish, Portuguese[1], French Government Republic  -  President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo  -  Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfubea Independence  -  from Spain October 12, 1968  Area  -  Total 28,051 km² (144th) 10... Motto Progress, Peace, Prosperity Anthem For The Gambia Our Homeland Capital Banjul Largest city Serrekunda Official languages English Government Republic  -  President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh[1] Independence  -  from the UK February 18, 1965   -  Republic declared April 24, 1970  Area  -  Total 10,380 km² (164th) 4,007 sq mi   -  Water... Motto: حرية ديمقراطية وحدة (Arabic) Liberty, Democracy, Unity Anthem: Yābaniy Es-Saharā  listen This map indicates the territory claimed by the SADR, viz. ... Motto: n/a Anthem: Independência total Capital (and largest city) São Tomé Portuguese Government Republic  - President Fradique de Menezes  - Prime Minister Tomé Vera Cruz Independence from Portugal   - Date 12 July 1975  Area  - Total 964 km² (183rd) 372 sq mi   - Water (%) 0 Population  - 2005 estimate 157,000 (188th)  - Density... Motto Unity - Freedom - Justice Anthem High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free Capital (and largest city) Freetown Official languages English Demonym Sierra Leonean Government Republic  -  President Ernest Bai Koroma Independance  -  from the United Kingdom April 27, 1961  Area  -  Total 71,740 km² (119th) 27,699 sq mi   -  Water (%) 1. ... This article is about the country on the southern tip of the African continent. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_African_Union. ... Map showing the distribution of Niger-Congo languages The Niger-Congo languages constitute one of the worlds major language families, and Africas largest in terms of geographical area, number of speakers, and number of distinct languages. ... Several Kordofanian languages are spoken in the Nuba hills of Kordofan, in Sudan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sudan. ... Mandé is the name of an ethnic group or nation, as well as a group of languages which are spoken in several countries in West Africa, including Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Dioula, Kagoro, Bozo, Mendé, Yacouba, and Vai. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_The_Gambia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea. ...  Guinea-Bissau  Mali Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea-Bissau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mali. ...  Mauritania  Senegal Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Senegal. ...  Sierra Leone  Liberia Image File history File links Flag_of_Sierra_Leone. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liberia. ...  Côte d'Ivoire  Nigeria Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ...  Burkina Faso  Benin Image File history File links Flag_of_Burkina_Faso. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ...  Togo Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... v • d • e Atlantic-Congo Atlantic  Benin  Burkina Faso  Cameroon  CAR Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The (West) Atlantic languages1 of West Africa are a subgroup of Niger-Congo language family. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Burkina_Faso. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cameroon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Central_African_Republic. ... Motto Unité, Dignité, Travail(French) Unity, Dignity, Work Anthem La Renaissance(French) E Zingo(Sango) Capital (and largest city) Bangui Official languages Sango, French Government Republic  -  President François Bozizé  -  Prime Minister Élie Doté Independence from France   -  Date August 13, 1960  Area  -  Total 622,984 km² (43rd) 240,534 sq... Ijoid  Nigeria  Chad  Côte d'Ivoire  Gambia  Guinea The Ijoid languages are spoken by the Ịjọ [Ijaw] and the Defaka (Afakani) of the Niger Delta in Nigeria, totalling about 10 million. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chad. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_The_Gambia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea. ... Dogon  Mali  Guinea-Bissau  Liberia  Mali The Dogon languages are spoken by the Dogon in Mali. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mali. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea-Bissau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liberia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mali. ...  Mauritania  Niger  Senegal Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Niger. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Senegal. ...  Sierra Leone  Sudan  Togo Image File history File links Flag_of_Sierra_Leone. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sudan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... v • d • e Volta-Congo Senufo  Benin  Côte d'Ivoire  Mali In the classification of African languages, Volta-Congo is the major branch (in terms of number of languages) of the Niger-Congo phylum. ... The Senufo languages comprise ca. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mali. ... Gur  Benin  Burkina Faso  Côte d'Ivoire  Ghana  Mali  Nigeria  Togo The Gur languages belong to the Niger-Congo languages. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Burkina_Faso. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ghana. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mali. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... Adamawa-Ubangi  Cameroon  CAR  Chad  Nigeria The Adamawa-Ubangi languages are spoken in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, southern Central African Republic, by a total of about 12 million people. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cameroon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Central_African_Republic. ... Motto Unité, Dignité, Travail(French) Unity, Dignity, Work Anthem La Renaissance(French) E Zingo(Sango) Capital (and largest city) Bangui Official languages Sango, French Government Republic  -  President François Bozizé  -  Prime Minister Élie Doté Independence from France   -  Date August 13, 1960  Area  -  Total 622,984 km² (43rd) 240,534 sq... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chad. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Kru  Burkina Faso  Côte d'Ivoire  Liberia The Kru languages belong to the Niger-Congo language family and are spoken in the area ranging from the south-east of Liberia to the east of Côte dIvoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Burkina_Faso. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liberia. ... Kwa  Benin  Côte d'Ivoire  Ghana  Nigeria  Togo The Kwa languages are spoken in the south-eastern part of Côte dIvoire, in Ghana, Togo and Benin, and the south-Western corner of Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ghana. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... v • d • e Benue-Congo Bantu  Angola  Botswana  Burundi  Cameroon  DRC The Benue-Congo group of languages constitutes the largest branch of the Niger-Congo language family, both in terms of sheer number of languages, of which 938 are known (not counting mere dialects), and in terms of speakers, numbering perhaps 550 million. ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu vs. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Angola. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Botswana. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Burundi. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cameroon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo. ... Motto Justice – Paix – Travail(French) Justice – Peace – Work Anthem Debout Congolais Capital (and largest city) Kinshasaa Official languages French Recognised regional languages Lingala, Kongo/Kituba, Swahili, Tshiluba Demonym Congolese Government Semi-Presidential Republic  -  President Joseph Kabila  -  Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga Independence  -  from Belgium June 30, 1960  Area  -  Total 2,344... Yoruba and Igbo  Nigeria  Rep. of the Congo  Equatorial Guinea  Gabon  Kenya Yoruba (native name èdè Yorùbá, the Yoruba language) is a dialect continuum of West Africa with over 22 million speakers. ... Igbo is a language spoken in Nigeria by around 18 million people (1999 WA), the Igbo, especially in the southeastern region once identified as Biafra. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_the_Congo. ... Motto Unité, Travail, Progrès(French) Unity, Work, Progress Anthem La Congolaise Capital (and largest city) Brazzaville Official languages French Government Republic  -  President Denis Sassou Nguesso  -  Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba Independence from France   -  Date 15 August 1960  Area  -  Total 342,000 km² (64th) 132,047 sq mi   -  Water (%) 3. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Equatorial_Guinea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Gabon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kenya. ...  Nigeria  Malawi  Mozambique  Namibia Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malawi. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mozambique. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Namibia. ...  Rwanda  Somalia  South Africa  Swaziland Image File history File links Flag_of_Rwanda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Somalia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Swaziland. ...  Tanzania  Uganda  Zambia  Zimbabwe Image File history File links Flag_of_Tanzania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uganda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Zambia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Zimbabwe. ... CAR = Central African Republic    DRC = Democratic Republic of the Congo