Liberia
Country in W Africa, bounded N by Guinea, E by Côte d'Ivoire, S and
SW by the Atlantic Ocean, and NW by Sierra Leone.
Government
The 1986 constitution, amended in 1988 and 1991, provides for a two-
chamber national assembly consisting of a 26-member senate and a 64-
member house of representatives, both elected by universal suffrage
for a six-year term. The president, who is head of state and government,
is similarly elected for a six-year term. In 1994, in the aftermath
of the civil war, a transitional government of national unity was established,
but this soon collapsed, and from 1995 a collective executive, comprising
the leaders of the three main rebel factions, functioned as an interim
administration.
History
William Tubman was president from 1944 until his death in 1971 and
was succeeded by Vice President William R Tolbert (1913-1980), who was
re- elected in 1975. In 1980 Tolbert was assassinated in a coup led
by Master Sgt Samuel Doe (1952-1990), who suspended the constitution,
banned all political parties, and ruled through the People's Redemption
Council (PRC). He proceeded to stamp out corruption in the public service,
encountering considerable opposition and making enemies who were later
to threaten his position.
A new constitution was approved by the PRC in 1983 and by national
referendum in 1984. Political parties were again permitted, provided
they registered with a special electoral commission. In 1984 Doe founded
the National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL) and announced his intention
to stand for the presidency. By 1985 there were 11 political parties,
but they complained about the difficulties of the registration process,
and only three registered in time for the elections. Doe's party won
clear majorities in both chambers, despite alleged electoral fraud,
and he was pronounced president with 51% of the vote. In 1985 there
was an unsuccessful attempt to unseat him. Doe alleged complicity by
neighbouring Sierra Leone and dealt harshly with the coup leaders.
A gradual movement towards a pluralist political system, with a number
of parties registering in opposition to the ruling NDPL, and growing
economic problems threatened the stability of the Doe regime. In July
1990 rebel forces under Charles Taylor and a breakaway faction led by
Prince Johnson laid siege to Doe in the presidential palace. Doe refused
an offer of assistance by the USA to leave the country, and in Sept
was captured and killed by rebel forces. A West African peacekeeping
force was drafted into the republic and in Nov 1990 Taylor's political
wing, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), set up an interim
government, headed by Amos Sawyer.
Despite installation of this government and the signing of a peace
agreement in Oct 1991, fighting continued and in Oct 1992 Taylor's forces
laid siege to the capital, Monrovia. A further peace accord, signed
in Aug 1993 under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity
and the United Nations, established an interim collective presidency,
but this soon collapsed. A seven-month transitional government, formed
in March 1994, was later disputed by rebel leaders. A further peace
accord foundered in Sept 1994, but in Aug 1995 an agreement, brokered
by Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings, was accepted by Taylor and leaders
of the other two main rebel factions. In Sept 1995 an interim collective
executive, consisting of the three warlords and chaired by the academic
Wilton Sankawulo, was established pending elections set for the following
year. In April 1996 fighting flared up again between the forces of Taylor
and Johnson, and the USA began evacuating foreigners. A peace plan was
brokered by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in
Aug 1996 and an interim Council of State, headed by former Liberian
senator Ruth Perry, was installed. It was estimated in 1996 that around
150,000 people had died in the civil war since 1990.
In 1997 Charles Taylor was sworn in as the country's president. He
won 75% of the vote in Liberia's first post -war election. The victory
gave Taylor absolute powers in both houses of parliament. Taylor pledged
to set up commissions aimed at guaranteering human rights and promoting
reconciliation.
|
