The Future of Democracy and Governance in Liberia

Of the more than 50 nations in Africa, the United States has the closest connection with the Republic of Liberia. This is not only because Liberia was founded in 1847 by freed men and former slaves from this country, but also because of the estimated 500,000 Liberians and Liberian descendants who live here. Liberian cities such as Monrovia and Buchanan were named for American Presidents. Most Americans are largely unaware of the long link between United States and Liberia. Liberia has been a major U.S. ally since World War II and into the Cold War, hosting U.S. communications facilities in the 1960s and 1970s, and has received extensive U.S. development assistance including post-war aid and Ebola aid to Liberia. The United States has also helped Liberia build its criminal justice sector and supported transitional justice efforts. U.S. has funded just over a quarter of the cost of United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) at a cost of about $106 million annually as of fiscal year 2016. The United States is a key provider of technical assistance to Liberia's national election commission including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems program funded by USAID and the U.N. Development Programme backed by nearly $12 million in mostly European Union funding under a multi-faceted project from 2015 to 2018. Our Government has a significant investment in Liberia on several fronts. The future direction of Liberia is important to the United States. We have a stake in the next government, building on the advances made in the democracy and governance under President Johnson Sirleaf, which followed the despotic rule of Charles Taylor, who was accused and convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity as a result of his involvement in the Sierra Leone civil war from 1991 to 2002.