Liberia

Featured Publications & Tools

Liberian President Optimistic on Country’s Outlook
If there is a Cinderella story in sub-Saharan Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf would argue it belongs to Liberia. Years of civil war, economic mismanagement and staggering debt all conspired to bring an already-ravaged economy to its knees by 2005. Read how President Sirleaf worked to turn the country around.
Women’s Role in Liberia’s Reconstruction
Women were crucial in bringing peace to Liberia and are now a critical part of the rebuilding process. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made it a priority to include women in Liberia's reconstruction. What role have women played in achieving and maintaining peace in Liberia and what are the challenges and opportunities they face?
Peace Agreements: Liberia
Truth Commission: Liberia
Truth Commission: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia
Duration: 2006 - 2009
Charter: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act
Commissioners: 9
Report: Vol. I (“preliminary report”) issued in December 2008, Vol. II (final but “unedited” report) issued in June 2009. In December 2009, an edited version of Vol. II was re-released together with Vol.III (appendices and specialized reports).
West Africa: Prospects for Peace
Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all have suffered greatly from violent conflict in recent years. What is the role of UN? What are the prospects for peace and reconciliation? Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, special representative to the United Nations, examined these questions.

Latest from USIP on Liberia

January 25, 2012 | Publication
Health in Post-Conflict and Fragile States

Civilian health, health care workers, and health facilities disproportionately suffer in countries experiencing severe instability, but global health donors have yet to make developing health systems in such states a priority. Doing so could both make populations healthier and contribute to state legitimacy.
January 17, 2012 | Publication
Customary Law Plays Critical Role in Countries in Conflict, Experts Say

Existing systems of customary justice should be seen as a continuing and important part of international efforts to support justice reform in countries hit by conflict, a group of specialists said at the January 12 public launch of a book published by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
January 12, 2012 | Event
Book Launch: Customary Justice and Rule of Law in War-Torn Societies

Customary Justice and Rule of Law in War-Torn Societies presents seven in-depth case studies that take a broad interdisciplinary approach to the study of the justice system. USIP brought together policymakers and practitioners to discuss the ways in which recent rule of law innovations plays a role in resolving many justice reform issues.
January 6, 2012 | Publication
Global Change, Peacebuilding and USIP

USIP leaders explain the effect that events around the world and here at home will have on the U.S., and the contributions the Institute can and does make during a time of tremendous challenge – and opportunity.

Since Liberia elected Africa's first female head of state, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in 2005 the nation has been able to slowly improve its security and stability. After 14 years of civil war, though, the nation continues to face a long and difficult path to recovery. With the ongoing political instability in the region and the pending draw down of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Liberia remains in a fragile state of peace.

USIP's Work in Liberia

USIP's programming in Liberia is centered around improving the citizenry's access to justice - through programs that target not only formal justice institutions, but also local legal practices and perceptions of justice.

In 2009, the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cited the historic discontent with the role of state institutions as one of the major factors behind Liberia's 14 year civil war, which ended in 2003. Lack of a reliable and appropriate mechanism for resolving disputes through the state justice system helped foster the social, political, and economic marginalization of a majority of the country’s population.

USIP’s Rule of Law Center of Innovation has recently led a program to build rule of law based on this model. The project aims to develop policy options to expand the rule of law and consolidate peace over the next decade in ways that include the role of informal legal systems and local understandings of justice. The initiative draws on USIP’s ongoing research examining interactions between customary and formal legal systems during post-conflict transitions worldwide.