Liberia after Live Aid

Liberia is a troubled nation despite being Africa’s oldest republic and enjoying a relatively calm history. It is now one of Africa’s poorest countries and is best known for its long running and bloody civil war, corruption and its involvement in Sierra Leone during the 1990s.

Whilst according to the African Development Bank, Liberia's poverty rate fell from 64% to 56% between 2007 and 2010, things like unemployment remain a real issue (78% of the population is in 'vulnerable employment'). Coupled with poor infrastructure, services and healthcare, this means that daily life is a struggle for many Liberians and the country remains very low on the Human Development Index - 174th out of 187.

Since 1981, SOS Children has been helping the children and young people of Liberia create a better future. One such way in which SOS Children is helping is via its family support work, part of the SOS Social and Medical Centre in Monrovia.

Click to find out how you can help by sponsoring a child in Liberia…

Time Line

• 1847 July - Liberia becomes independent.
  

• 1943 - William Tubman elected president.

• 1958 - Racial discrimination is outlawed.
  

• 1971 - Tubman dies; succeeded by William Tolbert Jr.

• 1980 - Master Sergeant Samuel Doe deposes the government in a military coup and publicly kills Tolbert and 13 of his aides. He heads a People's Redemption Council which suspends the constitution. Doe takes total control.

  

  
  

• 1981 SOS Children opens a Children’s Village in Monvrovia, it includes a youth house for older boys, a Primary and Secondary School as well as a Nursery.

• 1984 After pressure from the US and other nations that supply credit to Liberia, Doe's regime allows the return of political parties.

• 1985 - Doe wins presidential election.
  

• 1989 - National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) headed by Charles Taylor starts an uprising against the government.

• 1990 A peacekeeping force is sent by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). Doe is executed by a faction within the NPFL.
  

• 1997 Following a long period of non-stop fighting and chaos, Taylor wins a presidential election. International observers declare the elections free and fair.
  

• 1999 Liberia is accused of helping the Revolutionary United Front rebels in Sierra Leone. Britain and the US threaten to suspend aid to Liberia.
  

• 2000 Instability remains the order of the day. Attacks by a rebel group called Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) begin. SOS Children establish another Children’s Village – Juah Town.

• 2002 More than 50,000 Liberians and Sierra Leoneans become refugees as they flee fighting. Taylor declares a state of emergency.

• 2003 (June) Talks aimed at ending the rebellion suffer because of the indictment accusing President Taylor of war crimes over his alleged backing of rebels in Sierra Leone. SOS Children’s Village Juah Town is forced to evacuate due to fighting. SOS Children establish a short term emergency relief programme for 7000 refugees at the Children’s Village in Monrovia.

• 2003 (July) Fighting continues and worsens. The West African regional group Ecowas agrees to send peacekeepers.

• 2003 Peacekeepers arrive. Charles Taylor leaves the country after handing over to his deputy Moses Blah. US troops arrive, subsequently the interim government and rebels sign a peace agreement; Gyude Bryant is chosen to lead the interim administration.

  

  Children at the SOS Children's Village Juah Town, Liberia

• 2005 (September) SOS Mothers and children from the Children’s Village Juah Town are able to move back to their village.

• 2005 (November) Africa sees its first ever women elected as head of state as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected.

• 2006 (April) Charles Taylor appears before a UN-backed court in Sierra Leone, charged with crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court agrees to host his trial.

• 2006 (July) For the first time in 15 years the capital has electricity, an occasion marked by President Johnson Sirleaf switching on generator-powered street lights in the capital.

• 2009 President Johnson Sirleaf admits that she mistakenly supported Charles Taylor when he launched the 14-year civil war in 1989. 37,000 Liberians are living with HIV/AIDS.
  

• 2010 Maternal death rate stands at 770 deaths per 100,000 live births, 7th worst in the world. Drinking water source is better for 73% of the population, yet 27% are not so lucky.
  

• 2011 Presidential election which President Johnson Sirleaf wins. However her main rival boycotts the second round.

• 2012 (February) It is reported that oil has been discovered off the coast. 

• 2012 (April) Charles Taylor is found guilty of war crimes for aiding and directing rebels in Sierra Leone, his sentence is 50 years in prison.

• 2013 The infant mortality rate is 70.93 deaths per 1,000 live births, 17th worst in the world.