Liberia
Liberia is a West African country bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire, with a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. The capital and largest city is Monrovia. Liberia has a population of approximately five-million people and an economy historically centred on natural resources, particularly iron ore, rubber, timber and gold. The country's currency is the Liberian dollar, though the US dollar circulates widely. Liberia operates as a presidential republic and is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and the African Union. Founded in 1847 by freed American and Caribbean slaves, Liberia is Africa's oldest republic and was never colonised by a European power. The country endured two devastating civil wars between 1989 and 2003, which caused widespread destruction and economic collapse. Since the end of the conflict, Liberia has focused on post-war reconstruction, democratic governance and economic recovery. Key exports include rubber, iron ore and palm oil, with mining and agriculture forming the backbone of the economy. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who served as president from 2006 to 2018, was Africa's first elected female head of state and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Liberia continues to work towards sustainable development, improved infrastructure and strengthened institutions in the post-conflict era.
Liberia Updates
“Without Education, There Will Be Nothing” – School Fees and other Barriers to Education in Liberia
26th May 2026 Peter lives near Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, with his mother and three younger sisters. He attended school through the ninth grade, but after... →
Ebola outbreak in the DRC: four reasons it will be hard to contain
25th May 2026 By the second week of the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo it was already clear that containing the spread of the... →
Former African Presidents launch conflict resolution center with AFSA
By: Thabi Shomolekae 7th May 2026 To promote peace and stability on the continent, four former African leaders converged at the Sandton Convention Centre to formalise a... →
Africa’s peace-building faces reality check as leaders call for active prudence
By: Lumkile Nkomfe 6th May 2026 As day one of the Johannesburg Arbitration Week 2026 opened at the Sandton Convention Centre, hosted by dispute resolution authority the... →
Macky Sall’s failed UN bid: a stress test for the African Union?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 7th April 2026 Rather than indicating disunity, the outcome shows that the AU upheld its procedures for endorsing candidates to international positions. A draft... →
African ship registries: a safe harbour for shadow fleets?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 17th March 2026 The number of high-risk vessels flying African flags has surged, increasing risks to legitimate shipping interests and foreign investment. Sweden... →
African Union: how does it make a difference in everyday life and what would happen if it didn’t exist?
20th February 2026 The African Union held its 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2026. The two-day assembly produced... →
New malaria vaccines helped Ghana slash child deaths. Then Trump, others cut aid
By: Reuters 29th January 2026 New vaccines are helping Ghana approach a long-sought goal of ending child deaths from malaria, demonstrating the potential of the shots to drive... →
Diamond legend Steve Haggerty has died
By: Martin Creamer 5th January 2026 Remarkable South African geoscientist Stephen Edward Haggerty, who served with distinction as a research professor at Florida International... →
Post-war Liberia’s ongoing quest to reverse the culture of impunity
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 11th December 2025 Two decades after Liberia’s civil wars ended, new laws are a chance to learn from past mistakes that impeded transitional justice. Liberian... →
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