[53] [215], The Liberian government has begun transitioning away from use of United States customary units to the metric system. Pages in category "Islands of Liberia" The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. Together with the vice president, the president is elected to a six-year term by majority vote in a two-round system and can serve up to two terms in office. [83] A 2004 UN report estimated that 99% of Liberians burned charcoal and fuel wood for cooking and heating, resulting in deforestation. A map of Liberia's major rivers and their drainage systems This is a list of rivers in Liberia . King and Vice President Allen N. Yancy resigned. The Kpelle comprise more than 20% of the population and are the largest ethnic group in Liberia, residing mostly in Bong County and adjacent areas in central Liberia. [189] Approximately 58.2%[190] 66%[191] of women are estimated to have undergone female genital mutilation. [68], Liberia's main northwestern boundary is traversed by the Mano River while its southeast limits are bounded by the Cavalla River. [75], Liberia is a global biodiversity hotspota significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. Liberia, country along the coast of western Africa. Liberia is divided into 15 counties which are subdivided into 90 and further into clans. [192] In 2007, 20.4% of children under the age of five were malnourished. It was established on land acquired for freed U.S. slaves by the American Colonization Society, which founded a colony at Cape Mesurado in 1821. For virtually all of its history, the AFL has received considerable material and training assistance from the United States. Overview: Map: Directions: Satellite: Photo Map: Overview: Map: . [154] Among the companies to have won licenses are Repsol YPF, Chevron Corporation, and Woodside Petroleum. [57] The 2005 elections marked the first time that the president's party did not gain a majority of seats in the Legislature. This gave it a ranking 87th of 178 countries worldwide and 11th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Time zone: Noon = noon GMT. [90], From 1877 to 1980, the government was dominated by the True Whig Party. [76], Endangered species are hunted for human consumption as bushmeat in Liberia. Other trees of value are rubber, cacao, coffee, and the raffia palm. [111] As a result of bilateral, multilateral and commercial debt relief from 2007 to 2010, the country's external debt fell to $222.9 million by 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2013, Marc DuBois and Caitlin Wake, with Scarlett Sturridge and Christina Bennett (2015). As in other African countries, China is an important part of the post-conflict reconstruction. Liberia Bordering Countries: [1] The country's education sector is hampered by inadequate schools and supplies, as well as a lack of qualified teachers. The 2000s saw an expansion of protected regions in Liberia, with new and enlarged wildlife reserves at Gola National Forest, the Wonegizi National Forest Reserve, and Lake Piso, and ecotourism was seen as a potential growth industry for the country. Making Liberia safe: transformation of the national security sector. It hosts FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in addition to international concerts and national political events. [86] As of 2006[update], Liberia had the highest population growth rate in the world (4.50% per annum). [159] As revealed in the 2008 census, Monrovia is more than four times more populous than all the county capitals combined. Based on the political principles of the United States Constitution, it established the independent Republic of Liberia. [57], The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are the country's armed forces. [189], In 2014, an outbreak of Ebola virus in Guinea spread to Liberia. The oldest counties are Grand Bassa and Montserrado, both founded in 1839 prior to Liberian independence. [68] During the winter months of November to March, dry dust-laden harmattan winds blow inland, causing many problems for residents. Minority ethnic groups especially were exploited in a system that enriched well-connected elites. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. However, Lincoln in 1862 described Liberia as only "in a certain sensea success", and proposed instead that free people of color be assisted to emigrate to Chiriqu, today part of Panama. Believing themselves different from and culturally and educationally superior to the indigenous peoples, the Americo-Liberians developed as an elite minority that created and held on to political power. Finally, there is a mountainous highland region to the north hosting the country's highest point, the 1,440 m high Mount Wuteve, which has been marked on the map by an upright yellow triangle. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [22] These free African Americans and their descendants married within their community and came to identify as Americo-Liberians. "[29], American and other international interests emphasized resource extraction, with rubber production a major industry in the early 20th century. [49] By July 2003, the rebels had launched an assault on Monrovia. The area includes Liberia's highest mountain, Mount Wuteve (Wutuwi) at 1,447 m, as well as several other peaks, including Mount Balagizi (1,100 m). [175][176][177], Due to student protests late in October 2018, newly elected president George M. Weah abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students in the public universities in Liberia.[178]. [108] Liberia is one of the world's poorest countries, with a formal employment rate of 15%. This discussion focuses on Liberia from the 19th century. From its original name, it was first renamed . [57] Most parties suffer from poor organizational capacity. Between 1461 and the late 17th century, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders had contacts and trading posts in the region. List of 99 Liberia mountains showing elevation, prominence, and popularity The Liberian constitution exercises jus sanguinis, which means it usually restricts its citizenship to "Negroes or persons of Negro descent. [25], On July 26, 1847, the settlers issued a Declaration of Independence and promulgated a constitution. Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Delaware, Newark. Between ~43.5ka, these societies gradually transformed into food producers, possibly through contact with northern pastoralists and agriculturalists, as the environment became more arid. The government does not require businesses or schools to excuse Muslims for Friday prayers. The country is home to a lush rainforest containing a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Stella Maris Polytechnic, a post-secondary, private institution of higher learning. Please select which sections you would like to print: Professor and Chairman, Department of History, University of Liberia, Monrovia. [8] Gradually developing an Americo-Liberian identity, [9] [10] the settlers carried their culture and tradition with them. [159] Nimba County is the next most populous county, with 462,026 residents. [45] By September 1990, Doe's forces controlled only a small area just outside the capital, and Doe was captured and executed in that month by rebel forces. [84] Since 2006, the international community has paid for all garbage collection and disposal in Monrovia via the World Bank. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The countrys first post-conflict elections, held in 2005, were noteworthy for the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the presidency, as she was the first woman to be elected head of state in Africa. In alphabetical order, the 15 counties are Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, and Sinoe. Wikidata ID. Liberia is bounded by Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the north, Cte dIvoire to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. [195] In 2009, government expenditure on health care per capita was US$22,[196] accounting for 10.6% of total GDP. [202] Most Americo-Liberian men were members of the Masonic Order of Liberia, which became heavily involved in the nation's politics. With an area of 11,551 sq. [114] Following Sirleaf's inauguration in 2006, Liberia signed several multi-billion-dollar concession agreements in the iron ore and palm oil industries with numerous multinational corporations, including ArcelorMittal, BHP and Sime Darby. [76] After international protests, many of those logging permits were canceled. [34], Liberia remained neutral during World War I until August 4, 1917, upon declaring war on Germany. Parallel to the coastal plains is a region of rolling hills some 20 miles (32 km) wide with an average maximum elevation of about 300 feet (90 metres); a few hills rise as high as 500 feet (150 metres). Forestry is an important industry in Liberia. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [23], The ACS, supported by prominent American politicians such as Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, and James Monroe, believed "repatriation" was preferable to having emancipated slaves remain in the United States. Liberia has been an active participant in international and local policy changes related to climate change. [97], Both male and female homosexuality are illegal in Liberia. [158] Of those, 1,118,241 lived in Montserrado County, the most populous county in the country and home to the capital of Monrovia. [79] Of households where bushmeat was served, 80% of residents said they cooked it "once in a while," while 13% cooked it once a week and 7% cooked bushmeat daily. [139] In 2013, the mineral sector accounted for 11% of GDP in the country and the World Bank projected a further increase in the sector by 2017. Founded as the Liberian Frontier Force in 1908, the military was renamed in 1956. [161] Americo-Liberians, who are descendants of African American and West Indian, mostly Barbadian (Bajan) settlers, make up 2.5%. [159] The population of Liberia was 1,016,443 in 1962 and increased to 1,503,368 in 1974. It lies between latitudes 4 and 9N, and longitudes 7 and 12W. Liberian independence was proclaimed in 1847, and its boundaries were expanded. [165] Liberians also speak a variety of creolized dialects collectively known as Liberian English. [54], The United Nations Mission in Liberia began arriving in September 2003 to provide security and monitor the peace accord,[55] The interior has hot but pleasant days and cool nights during the dry season. Total capacity in 2013 was 20 MW, a sharp decline from a peak of 191 MW in 1989 before the wars. [citation needed] On July 16, 1892, Martha Ann Erskine Ricks met Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle and presented her a handmade quilt, Liberia's first diplomatic gift. Later Stone Age (LSA) populations evidence significant technological diversification, including both microlithic and macrolithic traditions. Column - Arts and Culture today is looking at a very important cultural heritage- The Providence Island, which was originally called the Dozoa Island. [117], While official commodity exports declined during the 1990s as many investors fled the civil war, Liberia's wartime economy featured the exploitation of the region's diamond wealth. They are low and sandy, with miles of beaches interspersed with bar-enclosed lagoons, mangrove swamps, and a few rocky promontoriesthe highest being Cape Mount (about 1,000 feet [305 metres] in elevation) in the northwest, Cape Mesurado in Monrovia, and Cape Palmas in the southeast. [20][21] By 1867, the ACS (and state-related chapters) had assisted in the migration of more than 13,000 people of color from the United States and the Caribbean to Liberia. However, these animals, along with the already threatened elephants, bush cows (short-horned buffalo), and leopards, were hunted for food during the civil war; their populations are recovering. "[163] That being said, numerous immigrants have come as merchants and become a major part of the business community, including Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals. [68], Following a peak in growth in 1979, the Liberian economy began a steady decline due to economic mismanagement after the 1980 coup. Next is the region of rolling hills about 32 km wide and an average elevation of 90 m. Beyond that is a dissected plateau with scattered mountains. [80] Much research into Tbg was performed in the 1970s by Mehlitz and by Gibson, both working in Bong Mine with samples from around the country. President William Tubman encouraged economic and political changes that heightened the country's prosperity and international profile; Liberia was a founding member of the League of Nations, United Nations, and the Organisation of African Unity. Life expectancy in Liberia is estimated to be 64.4 years in 2020. Four types of soil are found in Liberia. [118] The country acted as a major trader in Sierra Leonian blood diamonds, exporting over US$300 million in diamonds in 1999. Longest distances: 274 kilometers (170 miles) from north-northeast to south-southwest; 548 . [35], In 1927, the country's elections again showed the power of the True Whig Party, with electoral proceedings that have been called some of the most rigged ever;[36] the winning candidate was declared to have received votes amounting to more than 15 times the number of eligible voters. In a conscious effort to emulate the American South, the Americo-Liberian settlers adopted clothing such as hoop skirts and tailcoats, and excluded natives from economic opportunities, including creating plantations on which natives were forced to work as slaves. Please read the. (Nelson) See the Map of Liberia with Monrovia. [110] Historically the Liberian economy has depended heavily on foreign aid, foreign direct investment and exports of natural resources such as iron ore, rubber, and timber. After UN Security Council Resolution 1509 in September 2003, the United Nations Mission in Liberia arrived to referee the ceasefire with units from Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, and China with the view to assist the National Transitional Government of Liberia in forming the new Liberian military. [44] Government repression intensified in response, as Doe's troops retaliated by executing members of the Gio and Mano ethnic groups in Nimba County. Located on the West African coast, Liberia covers an area of 111,369 sq. [167] A multitude of diverse Protestant confessions such as Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) denominations form the bulk of the Christian population, followed by adherents of the Catholic Church and other non-Protestant Christians. [129][130][131][132] Liberia has a climate favourable to farming, vast forests, and an abundance of water, yet low yields mean that over half of foodstuffs are imported, with net agricultural trade at -$73.12 million in 2010. The Wologizi mountains are an isolated area of upland located in north-west of the country, to the south of the town of Voinjama. [207] Customary law allows men to have up to four wives. Liberia is an independent state that is situated in West Africa. The dusty and dry harmattan (desert winds) blow from the Sahara to the coast in December, bringing relief from the high relative humidity. [70] Because of its location in Africa, it is vulnerable to extreme weather, the coastal effects of sea level rise, and changing water systems and water availability. [77], Bushmeat is widely eaten in Liberia, and is considered a delicacy. Five years of military rule by the People's Redemption Council and five years of civilian rule by the National Democratic Party of Liberia were followed by the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars. [73] Four terrestrial ecoregions lie within Liberia's borders: Guinean montane forests, Western Guinean lowland forests, Guinean forestsavanna mosaic, and Guinean mangroves. [94] The National Police Training Academy is in Paynesville City. Like many other countries in Africa, Liberia both faces existing environmental issues, as well as sustainable development challenges. Sirleaf's Vision With Passion", "Notes, Presented by Professor and Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, David A. [80] The West African pariah dog is also a host for Tbg. Starz University, is a private higher education institution that was established in the United States in 2007, and became incorporated in Monrovia, 2009; with the objective of addressing the Information Technology(IT) need of Liberia. Rape is the most frequently reported crime, accounting for more than one-third of sexual violence cases. do you remove chicken neck before cooking, why did jocko sims leave new amsterdam, houses for rent in el paso under $800,
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