In the TIME Magazine article "Liberia In the Heart of Darkness", the ongoing tension in 1990 between Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe is discussed. Samuel Doe, the 10-year long, cruel ruler of Liberia, and Charles Taylor, the leader of the rebel National Patriotic Liberation Front, fought for many years which has lead to atrocious consequences for the already struggling nation. With much of the conflict being overlooked on the world stage and even by its own neighbors, Liberia's economic, political, and social issues are at an all time high.
There have been miniscule attempts for peace between the two parties but all have failed. West African forces made an effort by creating the Economic Community Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in 1990, but this did not work out as well as they hoped. With the nations a part of ECOMOG taking either Doe or Taylor's side, the peacekeeping process came to halt. Some "peacekeeping" nations donated artillery to Doe while others gave soldiers to Taylor. These West African countries also sent in troops before a cease-fire was resolved, which led the United States' withdrawal. They stated that "without a cease fire, there was no peace for any international force to keep."
With his 10,000 soldier army, Taylor has conquered nine-tenths of Liberia, leaving only the most damaged portions of the country to Samuel Doe. He has also created a new capital, Kakata, which has been brought to shambles over the last few years. The rebels have declared "We are the government. Doe is the rebel."
While it has been over 20 years since Samuel Doe's assassination, the violence he started in 1980 still effects Liberia today.
I see that the article is from 2006. What's happening in Liberia right now? There are thousands of refugees fleeing the threat of civil war in Ivory Cost to Liberia right now. Charles Taylor is currently in the Hague on trial for War Crimes. I'm sure you can find a lot of information about him.
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