liberia

• country on the western coast of africa
the republic of liberia is a country in western africa. the country was partly settled by freed american slaves and a republic was declared in 1847. samuel doe came to power in a coup in 1980 and was killed in 1990, following the outbreak of civil war. dr amos sawyer, of the liberian people's party (lpp), became interim president. fighting continued involving charles taylor's national patriotic front of liberia (npfl) and other forces, including the african multi-national force ecomog. an estimated 150,000 people were killed and one-third of the population was displaced. in 1993 a ceasefire was negotiated and in 1994 a transitional council of state, with david kpormakor as chairman, formally assumed power. however fighting between various liberian factions continued. liberia is a member of the organization of african unity. it exports iron ore, rubber, and coffee. shipping is an important industry. the civil war has severely disrupted the economy.