Liberian Civil War

The Liberian Civil War was a conflict in Liberia from 1989 until 1996.

Samuel Doe, the President of Liberia, had taken power in a popular coup of 1980 but opposition from abroad to his undemocratic regime led to economic collapse. At first, Doe crushed internal opposition, but after his Krahn tribe began attacking other tribes – particularly in Nimba County – conflict seemed inevitable.

By the middle of 1990, a civil war was raging. Taylor's NPFL soon controlled much of the country, while Johnson took most of the capital, Monrovia. ECOWAS attempted to persuade Doe to resign and go into exile, but despite his weak position – besieged in his mansion – he refused. As a result, Johnson attacked the mansion, killing Doe.

Peace was still far off as both Taylor and Johnson claimed power. ECOMOG declared an Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) with Amos Sawyer as their president, with the broad support of Johnson. Taylor attacked Monrovia in 1992, but ECOMOG reinforced the city and negotiated the Cotonou Agreement, a treaty between the NPFL, IGNU and Doe’s remaining supporters (known as the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy or ULIMO). A coalition government was formed in August 1993.

In September 1994, the Akosombo Agreement attempted to replace the coalition with moves towards a democratic government, but IGNU rejected this. The Abuja Accord of August 1995 finally achieved this, but in April 1996 the NPFL and ULIMO again began fighting in Monrovia, leading to the evacuation of most international NGOs and the destruction of much of the city.

The battles were ended by an amendment to the Abuja Accord in August, agreeing to disarmament and demobilization by 1997 and elections in July of that year. Charles Taylor formed the National Patriotic Party which won a large majority and left the country peaceful enough that refugees began to return. But other leaders were forced to leave the country, and some ULIMO forces reformed as the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). LURD began fighting in Lofa County with the aim of destabilizing the government and gaining control of the local diamond fields, leading to the Second Liberian Civil War.

The UN estimates that 150,000 people died during the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars, with 850,000 refugees fleeing to neighboring countries. The years of fighting, coupled with the flight of most businesses, had disrupted formal economic activity.

In 1997, the Liberian people elected Charles Taylor as President after he entered the capitol city, Monrovia, by force. The implicit unrest manifested during the late 1990s is emblematic in the sharp national economic decline and the prevalent sale of diamonds and timber in exchange for small arms.

The Second Liberian Civil War officially began in 2002 and ended in October 2003, when UN and US military intervened to stop the rebel siege on Monrovia and exile Charles Taylor to Nigeria. By the conclusion of the final war, more than 250,000 people had been killed and nearly 1 million displaced. Half that number remain to be repatriated in 2005, at the election of Liberia's first democratic President since the initial 1989 coup d'etat.

The new president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, was inaugurated in January and the National Transitional Government of Liberia terminated its power. After fourteen years of war, Liberians may be ready for development of basic services on peaceful terms, particularly electric current and primary infrastructure.

Armed groups that participated in the War

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL)
Liberia Peace Council (LPC)
Lofa Defense Force (LDF)
National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL)
National Patriotic Front of Liberia-Central Revolutionary Council (NPFL-CRC)
United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO)
United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy-Johnson faction (ULIMO-J)
United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy-Kromah faction (ULIMO-K)
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