The Republic of Liberia is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire. It has recently been afflicted by two civil wars, the Liberian Civil War (1989–1996), and the Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003), that have displaced hundreds of thousands of its citizens and destroyed the Liberian economy.
The history of Liberia as a political entity begins with the arrival of the black American settlers — the Americo-Liberians, as they were to be known — who established a colony of “free men of colour” on its shore in 1822 under the auspices of the American Colonization Society. The historical roots from which a majority of present-day Liberians derive their identity, however, are found in the varied traditions of the several tribal groups of indigenous Africans whom the settlers confronted in their struggle to gain a foothold in Africa and, later, extend their control into the interior.
On July 26, 1847, the Americo-Liberians declared the independence of the Republic of Liberia. The settlers regarded the continent from which their forefathers had been taken as slaves as a "Promised Land", but they did not become reintegrated into an African society. Once in Africa, they referred to themselves as "Americans" and were recognized as such by tribal Africans and by British colonial authorities in neighboring 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.
President Edwin Barclay of Liberia (right), 1943
The religious practices, social customs and cultural standards of the Americo-Liberians had their roots in the antebellum American South. These ideals strongly coloured 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. Because of mutual mistrust and hostility between the "Americans" along the coast and the "Natives" of the interior, a recurrent theme in the country's subsequent history, therefore, was the usually successful attempt of the Americo-Liberian minority to dominate people whom they considered uncivilized and inferior. They named the land "Liberia," which in European languages and Latin means "Land of the Free".
Liberia is situated in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. The landscape is characterised by mostly flat to rolling coastal plains, which rise to rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast. The climate is tropical: hot and humid. Winters are dry with hot days and cool to cold nights. Summers are wet and cloudy with frequent heavy showers.
Many consider the Gola to be earliest tribe to inhabit Liberia, but the Gola themselves claim they met the Dei ethnic group there when they arrived. The Dei ethnic group are a vanguard group of Bassa that settled Liberia in waves. The ethnic groups of Liberia can be divided into five major groups.
Things you should know when travelling to Liberia
The Canadian government and Canadian Content advises against all travel to this country. Canadians in this country should leave. (IDW1)
The security situation in Liberia remains volatile and extremely dangerous. Looting and robbery, often at gunpoint and frequently accompanied by violence, is also being reported throughout the country. Fighting can break out anywhere at any time. Tens of thousands of refugees and displaced persons in Monrovia, as well as in other cities, are putting a strain on food and shelter resources.
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has now completed the disarmament process and has started facilitating the repatriation of thousands of Liberian refugees from neighbouring countries. This mass movement of people makes for an even more fragile situation, considering the already poor economic conditions. Furthermore, with the upcoming (October 2005) elections, movements of people may become even more frequent and vary in intensity. The security situation remains very precarious and order is maintained only because of the UN presence.
Canadians who remain in Liberia despite this warning must evaluate their personal security situation very carefully, exercise utmost caution, and contact the Embassy of Canada in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (see below), for the latest developments.
The country is still recovering from a devastating civil war, which began in 1999 and ended in August 2003, when a peace accord was signed for a transitional power-sharing government until the October 2005 elections. A government had been democratically elected in 1997 after a 1989-1996 civil war. However, little or no infrastructure reconstruction occurred in the interim.
Telecommunications are poor in Monrovia and non-existent elsewhere. Water is not commercially available in Monrovia and there is no functioning sewage system. There is still no reliable supply of electricity in Monrovia. Lodging, fuel, and transportation services are severely limited or non-existent in rural areas. Limited to no progress has been made in resettling refugees and displaced persons, reintegrating former combatants, respecting human rights and the rule of law, creating a stable environment for economic development, and fighting corruption. Security problems exist in all areas including Monrovia, particularly in isolated locations. Authorities are not able to maintain law and order.
Despite the return to peace, arms trafficking and illegal logging operations continue. Corruption is still present at all levels. Crime is high in the capital and throughout the country. Thefts and assaults are prevalent, particularly at night. Residential armed break-ins are common. Police forces cannot provide protection. Do not leave valuables unattended in vehicles. Avoid displays of affluence. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure valuables, passports, and other travel documents are secure.
