Liberia
September 15, 2023
Liberia
U.S.-Liberia relations are close, based on a unique shared
cost of living and alleged corruption and mismanagement
history: the country was established in the 19th century by
by his government, prompting sporadic protests.
Black Americans who resettled in Africa, and the United
States has historically been Liberia’s top development and
Figure 1. Liberia at a Glance
diplomatic partner. Liberia has been a leading recipient of
U.S. aid in Africa over the past two decades—with influxes
of funding to help the country recover from back-to-back
civil wars (1989-1997 and 1999-2003) and a large Ebola
outbreak (2014-2016)—though annual U.S. aid levels are
on the decline. There is a sizable U.S.-based Liberian
diaspora, and surveys suggest that Liberians’ views of the
United States in Liberia are among the most positive in
Africa. Corruption by Liberian elites has been an enduring
point of friction; U.S. authorities have sanctioned several
senior Liberian officials for corruption since 2020.
The U.S. Role in Liberia
Source: CRS graphic, with population data from Liberia’s 2022
Present-day Liberia was founded by emancipated and free-
census and al other data from CIA World Factbook, 2023.
born Black Americans who resettled with the support of the
American Colonization Society, a U.S. group that aimed to
Liberia is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary
relocate Black Americans to Africa as an alternative to
elections on October 10, 2023; President Weah is running
integration in the United States. “Americo-Liberians,”
for a second six-year term. Opinion polls suggest support
descendants of this population, controlled the state until a
for Weah has waned since the start of his tenure: in a 2022
1980 coup. Abuses by the ensuing regime spurred unrest,
culminating in the onset of conflict in 1989. Liberia’s wars
survey, roughly three in four Liberians polled stated that the
country was moving in the wrong direction, and that
killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions, and
corruption was on the rise. At the same time, Liberia’s
caused tens of thousands to seek asylum in the United
opposition remains fractured after the collapse of an
States. The United States was the lead donor to the relief
opposition coalition in 2022. Whether opposition leaders
effort and committed extensive funding to restructure the
unite behind a single challenger in the event of a runoff
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and support stabilization
between the top two candidates—required if no candidate
and governance reform after the wars. More recently, the
secures 50% of votes in the first round—is a key question.
United States provided roughly $600 million and deployed
U.S. military personnel to Liberia in response to a 2014-
Foreign Affairs
2016 Ebola outbreak that killed nearly 5,000 Liberians.
United States. U.S. and Liberian observers have described
Politics
U.S.-Liberia ties as a “special relationship,” and the United
States arguably remains Liberia’s most influential partner.
President George Weah, a former international soccer star,
Among African countries, Liberia regularly has the highest
took office in 2018. He succeeded President Ellen Johnson
rate of alignment with the United States on U.N. General
Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state, who
Assembly (UNGA) votes that the State Department
oversaw a transition marked by general stability and robust
classifies as “important,” including those related to Israel.
economic growth until the Ebola outbreak. The epidemic
curtailed travel, commerce, and economic output, disrupted
U.S. firms play important roles in Liberia’s economy.
education, and decimated the health workforce before being
Firestone Natural Rubber Company, a subsidiary of
largely controlled by early 2015. Citing governance gains,
Bridgestone Americas (the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese firm
the United States and U.N. Security Council ended their
Bridgestone), operates the world’s largest rubber plantation
Liberia sanctions regimes in 2015 and 2016, respectively. A
in Liberia and is the country’s top private sector employer.
long-running U.N. peacekeeping mission withdrew in 2018.
(Rubber regularly accounts for over 95% of U.S. imports
from Liberia.) Liberia’s ship registry—the largest registry
President Weah has championed new laws to improve state
in the world by tonnage, and a key source of government
administration, strengthen anti-graft agencies, and permit
revenues—is headquartered in Virginia.
dual citizenship, a key diaspora demand. Global economic
headwinds arguably have stifled Weah’s development
Russia. The Weah administration has described Russia’s
agenda, however. Public discontent has mounted over the
invasion of Ukraine as “condemnable, unprovoked, and
unjustified,” and expressed support for Ukraine’s military
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Liberia
response. Liberia is among a small minority of African
gaps, expensive and unreliable electricity access, and
states to vote in favor of all six U.S.-backed UNGA
corruption are major barriers to business activity.
resolutions related to the Russia-Ukraine war.
U.S. Engagement and Assistance
People’s Republic of China (PRC, or China). China is
U.S.-Liberia relations came under strain following the 1980
one of Liberia’s top trade partners, and PRC state entities
coup until the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Ties markedly
have financed several large infrastructure projects in the
improved during President Sirleaf’s administration (2006-
country, including the construction of government office
2018), amid a surge in U.S. aid. A U.S.-Liberia Partnership
buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. PRC-based firms
Dialogue was launched in 2013. Liberia’s legislature is one
also are active in Liberia’s economy, particularly in the
of 18 House Democracy Partnership partner legislatures.
mining, forestry, and fishing sectors.
Corruption Sanctions. In 2020, the Trump Administration
Security and Human Rights Issues
sanctioned Liberia’s former director of passport and visas
Security and human rights conditions have vastly improved
for fraud and a sitting senator, Varney Sherman, for bribery.
since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Elections and protests
The Biden Administration has publicly sanctioned four
have spurred sporadic unrest, but the country has not seen a
Liberian officials for corruption to date: Senator Prince
return to conflict. The AFL is small by regional standards,
Johnson, a former rebel leader and influential senator, and
with around 2,000 troops, according to a 2022 International
three top Weah administration officials, including Weah’s
Institute for Security Studies estimate; roughly 160 AFL
chief of staff. President Weah suspended the three officials,
personnel are deployed in U.N. peacekeeping missions,
all of whom resigned, though none has faced prosecution.
most to Mali. Surveys indicate the AFL is one of Liberia’s
most trusted state institutions, while the police are widely
U.S. Aid. Since the end of Liberia’s civil wars, the United
seen as corrupt. The State Department reports that police
States has provided over $2 billion in State Department-
abuses, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions,
and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-
gender-based violence, and attacks on sexual minorities are
managed aid to support stabilization, security-sector reform,
among Liberia’s top human rights challenges.
governance, and development. Liberia has received
additional funds under global and regional programs, aid
Impunity for wartime abuses has been a point of contention.
provided by other U.S. agencies, and emergency funding
A postwar Truth and Reconciliation Commission made
(e.g., Ebola- and COVID-19-related support). Liberia is a
recommendations related to accountability, including the
focus country under the President’s Malaria Initiative and
establishment of a tribunal to prosecute wartime abuses.
Feed the Future, and partners with the Michigan National
Weah initially appeared to endorse such a tribunal, but later
Guard under the State Partnership Program.
disavowed the proposal, and no court has been convened to
date. Some alleged war criminals remain active in Liberian
Nonemergency U.S. assistance for Liberia peaked in 2010
politics. Others have faced prosecution abroad, including in
and has since declined. State Department- and USAID-
the United States, where several have faced fraud or perjury
administered aid for the country totaled $129.6 million in
charges linked to nondisclosure of wartime abuses in
FY2022, about half of which was health aid. Funding for
applications for U.S. asylum, residency, or citizenship.
education and social services ($23.0 million); economic
growth ($18.0 million); democracy and governance ($15.9
The Economy
million); and peace and security ($4.8 million) composed
Liberia’s economy is reliant on exports of raw agricultural
the balance of FY2022 aid. The Biden Administration
products (rubber, timber, and palm oil) and minerals (iron
requested $115.0 million for Liberia for FY2024.
ore, gold, and diamonds), and is highly vulnerable to global
price swings. Several foreign firms operate in Liberia via
In 2021, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
concessions—large, long-term leases to natural resources,
closed out a five-year, $257 million Compact in Liberia
estimated to cover at least 25% of Liberia’s territory—but
focused on expanding access to electricity and improving
“negotiating these agreements with the government often
roads. A previous $15 million MCC Threshold Program
proves to be a lengthy, politicized, and byzantine struggle
(2010-2013) focused on improving girls’ access to
for those companies who do not pay bribes,” according to
education, enhancing land rights, and promoting trade.
the State Department. Outside of these industries, most
Liberians depend on subsistence agriculture and small-scale
Diaspora. Roughly 100,000 foreign-born Liberians reside
trading. The International Monetary Fund projects annual
in the United States, according to U.S. Census Bureau data,
growth to average 5.2% between 2023 and 2025, reflecting
the largest Liberian diaspora in the world. Liberians in the
a favorable outlook for iron ore, gold, and rubber exports.
United States received Temporary Protected Status in 1991,
during the first civil war. Successive Administrations
Poverty has been a chronic challenge. The World Bank
extended immigration relief for eligible Liberians amid
estimates that, as of 2022, 36% of Liberians lived under the
continued conflict and, later, the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak.
international poverty level. Liberia ranked 113th out of 121
A provision in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization
countries on the 2022 Global Hunger Index, a measure of
Act (P.L. 116-92) enabled eligible Liberians and their
undernourishment. In its Investment Climate Statement for
family members to obtain lawful permanent resident status.
2023, the State Department reports that Liberia “relies
heavily on imports even for most basic needs like fuel,
Tomás F. Husted, Analyst in African Affairs
clothing, and rice,” the main staple food. Infrastructure
IF12493
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Liberia
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