Elections mark end of seven year war in Liberia


The faces of Liberian children who were forced to fight in the war.


By Jay Owens
Staff Writer

Elections this summer in Liberia mark the end of seven years of civil war. On Aug. 2, Charles Taylor, a former warlord who won in a landslide, took the office of President.

Liberia is located on the West Coast of Africa and was established in 1822 by freed American slaves. Liberia, which became a independent country in 1847, was designed to be a democratic republic and was loosely based on the U.S. system. In fact, until 1986 Liberia's constitution was very similar to that of the United States.

The attempts to create a democratic republic in Africa proved to be difficult for Liberia. Problems such as clashes between tribes, corrupt government officials, and a civil war have plagued Liberia and darkened the country's future.

In 1980, problems came to light when Samuel Doe, a Master Sergeant in the Liberian military and other non-commissioned officers over threw the government. The indigenous people of Liberia were in support of Doe's coup and for a time it looked as if the country's political system would stabilize, but soon his administration was in trouble as well.

Amidst claims of corruption and with an large amounts of military aid from the U.S., Doe's administration was heading for disaster. In 1989, Charles Taylor, an official in Doe's government, attempted to over throw Doe's government. He laid siege to Monrovia, Liberia's capital, and came very close to toppling the government. What ensued after the coup attempt was a seven-year civil war.

According to Fielding's Travel Guides, a publication that advises those traveling abroad, "calling the situation in modern Liberia a "civil war" is giving it too much status and crediting it with organization and purpose. The reality is villagers (were) slaughtered by tribal-based militias (who) mark their territory with the skulls of their victims."

This quote gives the reader an insight into the civil war. With several factions pillaging and slaughtering their way through the country, Liberia was in disarray and Charles Taylor's forces were by far the most powerful. His forces were known to be relentless, violent, and malicious.

The elections are over, but Liberia still faces several uncertainties. One of these uncertainties is a border dispute with Sierra Leone, a country to the north. Another is Taylor's term in office. Nowhere does it state how long Taylor will remain as President before there is another election.

With no clear term of office, it is evident, if not inevitable, that with several rival political parties, there will soon be serious questions about the next elections.

Some other pictures from Berestecky's trip:

 


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