Transcript Liberia – Then and Now

Liberia – Then and Now
An Overview of the Country
The Geography of Africa
Flag of Liberia
Climate of Liberia
 The climate is tropical and humid, with little change in
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temperature throughout the year.
Temperatures range between 60 F and 97 F – most commonly
around 80 F.
On the coast the heat is tempered by an almost constant
breeze.
Yearly rainfall is as high as 200 in on the coast, decreasing to
about 80 in. in areas farthest inland. There are distinct wet and
dry seasons, most of the rainfall occurring between late April
and mid-November.
Average relative humidity in the coastal area is about 82%
during the rainy season and 78% in the dry, but it may drop to
50% or lower between December and March, when the dustladen harmattan blows from the Sahara.
Geography of Liberia
 The landscape is
characterized by mostly flat
to rolling coastal plains that
contain mangroves and
swamps, which rise to a
rolling plateau and low
mountains in the northeast.
 Tropical rainforests cover
the hills, while elephant
grass and semi-deciduous
forests make up the
dominant vegetation in the
northern sections.
Economy of Liberia
 Liberia is one of the world's poorest countries,
with a formal employment rate of only 15%.
 Historically, the Liberian economy has
depended heavily on foreign aid, foreign
direct investment and exports of natural
resources such as iron ore, rubber and
timber.
 Following a peak in growth in 1979, the
Liberian economy began a steady decline
due to economic mismanagement following
the 1980 coup.
 This decline was accelerated by the outbreak
of civil war in 1989; GDP was reduced by an
estimated 90% between 1989 and 1995, one
of the fastest declines in history.
 Current impediments to growth include a
small domestic market, lack of adequate
infrastructure, high transportation costs, poor
trade links with neighboring countries and the
high dollarization of the economy.
History of Liberia
 Set up by the U.S. as a sovereign state for
former African American Slaves
 (Sierra Leone was set up by Britain for the
same reason.)
Colonization
 1821-1847
 Combination of purchase and conquest
 Declared its independence on July 26, 1847
Americo-Liberian Rule
 1847-1980
 Governed by small minority of African
American colonists and their offspring
 Called “Americo-Liberians” – considered the
“elite” class (typically lighter skinned because
of mixing of race with Europeans and
Americans)
 Suppress the large indigenous majority of
95% of the population
…and…
 Encouraged Protestant Christianity
 Attitude of superiority regarding European
skin color and hair texture
 Created social and material facsimile of
southern America which included architecture
and clothing styles
 Racist caste system
 Some locals assimilated by marriage
 Some tribes learned Eng and attended
Protestant Churches, and some didn’t
Uprisings and problems
 Over the years there were many native insurgencies,
which were always stopped by the ruling government
 1927 – League of Nations admonished the Liberian
Gov’t for ‘systematically … fostering and encouraging
a policy of gross intimidation and suppression’, “in
order to suppress the native, prevent him from
realizing his powers and limitations and prevent him
from asserting himself in any way whatever, for the
benefit of the dominant and colonizing race, although
originally the same African stock as themselves”
(President Charles King – 1920-1930)
WW II Era
 Many indigenous Liberians moved from the
interior to the coast in search of jobs.
 1942 Liberia signed Defense Pact which
promised a steady supply of rubber to the
U.S. and permitted use of the country as a
military base for Allied Forces
 Germany had been an important trading
partner, but Liberia sided with the Allies, so
Germany withdrew business
After the war
 After 1945, country received hundreds of
millions of dollars in unrestricted foreign
investments (largely from the U.S.)
 This destabilized the Liberian gov’t and led to
embezzlement by gov’t officials.
 Growing economic disparity
 Increasing social tension
Presidency of Tubman
 President from 1947 – 1971
 Father of Modern Liberia
 Prosperity and National Unity
President Tolbert
 1971-1980
 Continued the oppression
 Plans to raise the price of rice in 1979 led to
riots in the streets
 Tolbert ordered troops to fire on
demonstrators – 70 people killed
 Rioting got worse leading to a coup in April
1980
Samuel Doe (1980-1989)
 Indigenous Liberians (People’s Redemption
Council) overtook the Americo-Liberian elite
and put Samuel Doe in power.
 Tolbert and 26 supporters were murdered
 10 days later, 13 cabinet members were
publicly executed
 Many people supported Doe because he
represented the majority in the country
 Good relations with U.S. and other countries
The Reagan Years
 During the 1980’s, President Ronald Reagan was a
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supporter of Doe’s and funneled millions of dollars in
trade into the country
Direct financial aid from the U.S. increased from $20
million to $75 and then $95 million per year
Doe overcame 7 coup attempts before 1985
PRC members started to question Doe and out of
fear of a coup he had them banned or arrested
Doe’s paranoia led to more problems
Multi-party Republic
 Attempt to quiet the factions that complained
about Doe’s control
 Constitution drafted in 1983 – approved in
1984
 1985 Doe called an election
 9 parties asked to participate, only 3 were
permitted
 50 of Doe’s opponents were killed
 Doe won by 51% - heavily rigged election
More Coup attempts
 Nov 1985 – Thomas Quiwonkpa – former 2nd
in command – attempted to seize power with
500+ allies. All were killed.
 Doe (from Krahn tribe) took office as
“president” in Jan 1986
 Ordered attack on Gio and Mano tribes in the
north who were supporters of the coup
attempt.
 U.S. decreased support of country (many
reasons)
Late 1980’s
 Charles Taylor organized people from Gio
and Mano tribes in the north and led them to
attack
 By 1990, Full-blown tribal warfare had broken
out.
 “First Liberian Civil War” – 1989-1996
 Thousands of Civilians were killed
Charles Taylor and the NPFL
 Taylor was a member of Doe’s government
until 1983 when he was accused of
embezzlement and fired.
 He fled to the U.S. and was arrested in 1984
and jailed in Massachusettes.
 He escaped in 1985 and went back to Africa
where he organized the opposition group of
Gio and Mano tribes
 National Patriotic Front of Liberia
Various controls
 Mid 1990, Taylor’s group controlled most of
the country
 Yormie Johnson split off from the NPFL and
formed the Independent National Front of
Liberia
 Aug 1990 - ECOWOG Stepped in to provide
stability and stop the fighting (Economic
Community of West African States Monitoring
Group)