Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests,
and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia has everything - as far as natural
resources are concerned - to build up a strong economy and enter the circle of
rich / wealthy nations.
Currently this is
not the case. The country is listed among the poorest nations in the world.
To understand why it is so, a quick history is necessary.
From the inception of the Republic of Liberia in 1847, till 1979, the elite /
rulers - freed African slaves from the United States of America; roughly 2.5%
of the population - dominated the social, cultural and political life of the country
for more than one century and three decades. They neglected the integration of
natives indigenous people into the political and economic game. And what always
happens in such circumstances did occurred: a bloody coup - led by an army Sergeant:
Samuel Doe - put an end to their domination and brought to power the army
in 1979. The seeds for a civil war were then sowed by the dictatorial regime of
Sergeant Doe. In 1989 a savage civil strife begun. It lasted seven years and was
brought to end in 1996 when free, open presidential and legislative elections
were held.
President Taylor won and till the end of year 2000 ruled
a strong executive power with no real political opposition.
However, starting from beginning of year 2001, the political landscape changed. Indeed,
a coalition of opponents (the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
- LURD) to Taylor's regime ignited again the civil strife. They established
a strong guerilla base in the Northern region to fighting Taylor's ragtag troops, which retreated to the capital
city Monrovia and some vicinities around representing roughly 20% of Liberia's
territory.
On August 18, 2003, at Accra, warring parties and Moses
Blah's government signed a peace Agreement to ending the three years old civil
war.
The Agreement sets pace for the establishment of an interim power-sharing
government between Blah's followers, the two rebels groups and civilians. Under
the deal, all warring parties waived any claim to the top posts in the interim
government, instead allowing noncombatants to take the posts.
The United
Nations Security Council's resolution 1509 (2003) of 19 September 2003 established
UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement
and the peace process; protect United Nations staff, facilities and civilians;
support humanitarian and human rights activities; as well as assist in national
security reform, including national police training and formation of a new, restructured
military.
Under the strong leadership of Ambassador Jacques Klein, UNMIL
performed well. On May 19, 2004, the retired American Airforce General declared
that more than 30,000 combatants have so far been disarmed since the disarmament
process began about five months ago. Ambassador Klein also said more than two
million ammunition rounds have been collected and destroyed. Click
here for more on UNMIL
- A NEW BEGINNING FOR LIBERIA?
On November 22, 2005,
former World Bank economist Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was declared the winner of Liberia's presidential election (First leg on October 11, 2005 and Second leg on November 8, 2005) making her Africa's first democratically elected female head of state and her country's first elected leader after 14-years' brutal civil war.
The 67-year-old grandmother, won nearly 60% of votes against former AC Milan and Chelsea footballer George Weah.
George Weah followers do not accept the ballot's results, that is the reason the proclamation was made 13 days after the second leg that took place on November 11, 2005. They made claims to Liberia's elections commission that the election was "rigged" and flawed by frauds. They found odd that Weah who was ahead for the first leg had been toppled at the second leg - Click above link for more.
The near future shall tell if Weah' supporters would abide to Weah's repeated pleas for calm to avoid another fatal political turbulence.
- LIBERIA DESPERATELY NEEDS PEACE TO RECONSTRUCT A SHATTERED ECONOMY
Sergeant Doe's erratic
political regime and the first civil war period (1889-1996) triggered the dash
to overseas of most if not all businessmen and brains. They fled the country,
taking capital and expertise with them. The economy was completely disrupted and
formal economic activity nil. Taylor did quite nothing from 1996 to 2003 to improve the economic and social situation.
The country has no viable infrastructure (schools, hospitals, administrative centers). Roads network do no exist to connect the country's three million people, and Monrovia, the Capital-City, lacks mains (electricity and water).
The populations are tired and have immense social and economic expectations. Therefore, the new elected president has an uphill battle
to satisfy demand, while the threat of tribal or factional violence remains close to the surface. Not to mention Weah' supporters frustrations.
For three decades running the national budget's revenues originated mainly (if not only) from the flag of convenience registry (around US$ 42 million a year) - which is not enough to efficiently manage
the economy. The new rulers need absolutely to find additional resources to battle exiting catastrophic poverty level and jobless
problems.
A relatively small country with a population of just three million, Liberia has the potential to be a middle income country.
Its land is crisscrossed by rivers watering fertile soil that supports rubber, palm oil and tropical fruit plantations.
It has some of the richest timber resources anywhere in Africa; mountains bearing some of the world's highest quality iron ore; and significant deposits of diamonds and gold.
Unfortunately, these assets had never been exploited to establish a powerful economy capable of creating jobs to cope with demand and riches to alleviate rampant poverty.
The setup of a strategic integrated economic scheme would be necessary to restore devastated infrastructure and establish new ones. Said necessary strategic integrated economic scheme would assist the country:
1- To develop and diversify the agricultural system
2-
To establish a sound and solid agribusiness / industrial sector.
That is the only way Liberia
could break the vicious circle of unemployment - 70% of the population - and avoid political disturbances that could lead to another civil war.
GNP:
US$ 1.116 billion (2000); 1.712 billion (2001);
1.798 billion (2002);
1.878 billion (2003) GNP-
growth rate: 0.5% (1998);
15% (2000); 5% (2001); 4.5%
(2002); 20% (2003) GNP-per
capita: US$ 366 (2000);
566 (2003) Click
here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power
GNP-composition
by sector
agriculture:
74%
industry:
7%
services:
19%
Exports:
US$ 39 million (f.o.b.
1999); US$ 55 million (f.o.b., 2000) 110 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) Commodities:
diamonds, iron ore,
rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa Exports
- partners: Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy
4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
US$ 142 million
(f.o.b. 1999); US$ 170 million (f.o.b., 2000); 165 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) Commodities:
fuels, chemicals,
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs
Imports Imports
- partners: South Korea 30.3%, Japan 19.1%, Germany 15.6%, France 9.1%,
Singapore 7.9% (2002)
A passport and visa are required, as is evidence of a yellow fever vaccination.
For persons who are traveling from countries that do not have a Liberian embassy
or consulate, an airport entry visa may be obtained, but the Bureau of Immigration
and Naturalization must authorize the visa in advance of arrival. Further information
on entry requirements for Liberia can be obtained from the nearest Liberian embassy
or consulate.
If you intend staying more than 15 days in Liberia,
it is compulsory to report within 48 hours of arrival to the Immigration Office
in Broad Street, Monrovia; with 2 passport-sized photos.
Diplomatic
representation in the US
5303 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 Tel:
+(1) 202 723-0437 Fax: +(1) 202 723-0436
Website URL: Click
here E-mail: Click
here
England
Embassy of the Republic of Liberia
2 Pembridge Place London, W2 4XB Tel: +(44)
171 221 1036
AIR-LINKING
/ TRANSSHIPPING
Main airlines servicing Liberia include Ethiopian Airlines, Aeroflot and Zambia
Airways. After an interruption of 10 years SABENA the Belgian Airlines is resuming
- end October 2000 - it twice weekly flights schedule to Monrovia from Brussels.
There are unscheduled freighter services with passenger accommodation from
some European ports.
The main Liberian ports are Monrovia, Buchanan,
Greenville, Harper and Robertsport.
Liberia runs one of the oldest flag of convenience registry
in the world. Ships from 54 countries are listed; among which are Germany
186, US 161, Norway 142, Greece 144, Japan 124, Hong Kong 100, China 53, UK 32,
Singapore 39, and Monaco 38 (1998 est.) Below in the Investor Contact section
is listed The Bureau of Maritime Affairs
Executive
Mansion Attention: Presidential,
Economic and Financial Adviser P. O. Box 10-9001 Capitol Hill 1000
Monrovia 10 Liberia Email: Click
here
Bureau
of Maritime Affairs
P. O. Box 10-9042 197 Ashmun Street 1000 Monrovia 10, Liberia Tel:
+(231) 22 22 29 / 22 26 47 / 22 33 67 Telex:
44249
Chamber
of Commerce Capitol
Hill P.O. Box 92 Monrovia Liberia Tel:
+(231) 22 37 38
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel accommodation can be expensive. It is advisable to book well in advance,
whatever the category of accommodation. Contact the ministry of tourism below
listed for more.
Africa
Hotel O.A.U. Island
Virginia PO Box 1522 Monrovia O.A.U. Island Liberia Tel:
+(231) 22 42 16 / 22 38 88 Fax: +(231) 22 37
32
Ministry
of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism
PO Box 10-9021 110 United Nations Drive Monrovia Tel:
+(231) 22 62 69 Fax: +(231) 22 60 69
- THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA - BRIEFS
. -
