Liberia:
Liberia
is a West African nation situated off the Atlantic Ocean, bordered
to its north by Guinea and Sierra Leone. The country’s short-lived
history dates back to 1822 when freed slaves from the United States
were resettled here. In 1847, the Republic of Liberia was formed
under first president Joseph Jenkins Roberts.
A long period of
relative stability in government came to an end in 1980 when
Sergeant Samuel Doe overthrew the government and assassinated
the then President
William Tolbert.
This brought about a long period of armed conflict
making Liberia one of the most volatile nations in Africa.
Doe enforced an authoritarian regime and political opponents
were heavily
suppressed. A civil war broke out in 1989 resulting in the
ousting of Doe by Yormie Johnson. Elections were held in 1997
and were
won by Charles Taylor a former Warlord.
Taylor’s troubled
and controversial regime was short-lived as he was overthrown
in 2003. He went into exile in neighboring Nigeria but was extradited
in 2006 to face war crimes charges.
A transitional government was formed in 2003 and elections were
held in 2005, won by the first African Female Head of State Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf.
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