Liberia

Liberia is a country in West Africa that suffered from years of instability and conflict from 1990 to 2003, with attendant destruction of buildings, roads, infrastructure, and public institutions. After comprehensive peace accords ended the conflict in August 2003, a United Nations peacekeeping force (UNMIL) was deployed to facilitate disarmament and demobilization, help arrange democratic elections, and provide for security of the country. In late 2005, Liberians elected Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as president. She was re-elected in November 2011, and her administration continues to make progress in rebuilding the country.

Despite over ten years of peace and economic growth, Liberia is still one of the poorest countries in the world and many basic services (e.g., public power, water and sewage, and landline phones) are either limited or unavailable. Facilities for foreign visitors are adequate in the capital city, Monrovia, but virtually non-existent in the rest of the country. The official language of Liberia is English. Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Liberia for additional information.