Liberia was settled by freed American slaves in 1821 and became
an independent republic in 1847. Americo-Liberians, descendants
of the freed slaves, dominated the country until 1980, when Sgt.
Samuel Doe led a violent coup that led to the killing of President
William Tolbert. By a fraudulent election, in 1985, Doe became
Liberia's first indigenous president. In 1989, Liberia was invaded
from Côte d' Ivoire by rebel forces of the National Patriotic
Front of Liberia (NPFL), led by Charles Taylor, who proclaimed
himself president. Doe was assassinated in 1990 by another group
of rebels led by Prince Yormie Johnson, who also sought the presidency.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened
to negotiate a peace settlement among the two rebel groups and
the government. ECOWAS also sent a Nigerian-led West African
peacekeeping force to Monrovia and installed an interim government
led by Amos Sawyer. With military aid from Libya and Burkina
Faso, Taylor's forces began a siege of Monrovia in 1992 and engaged
in fighting with ECOWAS forces. A number of cease-fires were
established in 1993 and 1994, but clashes between factions persisted.
AQUASTAT - FAO's
Information System on Water and Agriculture (http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agl/aglw/aquastat/main/index.stm)
AQUASTAT is FAO's global information system of water and agriculture developed by the Land and Water Development Division of FAO. Site contains an online database, country profiles regional overviews, and maps of water resources development. A profile of Liberian water resources is included.
The African Development Bank Group (http://www.afdb.org/)
Site contains basic economic indicators and project reports for Liberia and other African countries.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (http://www.ecowas.int/)
Official website of ECOWAS a regional organization which aims to promote trade and economic growth among member countries. Site provides a description and structure of the organization, country profiles of each Member state, publications, and press releases.
International Trade Administration (http://www.ita.doc.gov)
Site provides a country profile of business and economic trends in Liberia.
Mbendi Information Services (http://mbendi.co.za/index.htm)
Site provides country profiles and information on business opportunities in the oil, chemical, mining, and other industries in the African countries, companies and organizations active in various industry sectors, the lead business and government personalities, details of conferences and exhibitions, and a directory of products and services.
United Nations Development Programme (http://www.undp.org)
Site contains the Human Development Report for 2002, including a national report for Liberia.
United States. Agency for International Development -- Africa (http://www.info.usaid.gov/regions/afr)
This site includes a comprehensive Africa section covering programs on private sector development in Liberia and other sub-Saharan African countries. Site includes country information, testimony, speeches, press releases and publications, and a description of the West Africa Regional Program.
United States. Department of Commerce. International Trade Administration (ITA) (http://www.ita.doc.gov)
Site provides a country profile of business and economic trends in Liberia.
United States. Department of State -- Liberia (http://www.state.gov/p/af/ci/li)
Site contains country information, major economic reports and press releases on Liberia.
West African Bankers' Association (http://www.wabao.org)
The Association covers Benin, Burkin Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
World Bank Group (http://www.worldbank.org)
The World Bank Group is composed of five organizations: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The Group provides substantial amounts of data, statistics and full-text documents and reports on various sectors of economic and development development in Liberia and in other sub-Saharan African countries.
World Investment News (http://www.winne.com/reports.htm)
Provides a country report on the business climate in Liberia and contact information for government ministers.
World Trade Organization (http://www.wto.org/)
Site provides trade statistics for Liberia and full-text official documents on trade and investment-related topics.
|