Discovering Liberia
Liberia is a country on the west coast of Africa. It borders Sierra Leone, Guinea Republic and Côte d’Ivoire and the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2008 Census, the West African country is home to 3,476,608 people. It occupies 111,369 sq km.
Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic but also one of its poorest nations. It is struggling to get back on its feet after almost 14-years of civil war, which led to the deaths of 250,000 people. The capital city is Monrovia.
History
The history of Liberia is unique among African nations because of its international relationship especially with the United States. As Africa’s first republic, Liberia was founded in 1822 as a result of the efforts of the American Colonization Society to settle freed American slaves in West Africa. It is one of the few countries in Africa, and the only country in West Africa without track in the European colonization of Africa. It was founded and colonized by freed American slaves with the help of a private organization called the American Colonization Society in 1821-1822.
The society contended that the emigration of blacks to Africa was an answer to the problem of slavery and the incompatibility of the races. Over the course of forty years, about 12,000 slaves were voluntarily relocated. Originally called Monrovia, the colony became the Free and Independent Republic of Liberia in 1847.
Geography
Lying on the Atlantic in the southern part of West Africa, Liberia is comparable in size to Tennessee. The Atlantic coastline to the west is 560km long, of which over half is sandy beach. Lying parallel to the shore are three distinct belts. The low coastal belt is well watered by shallow lagoons, tidal creeks and mangrove swamps, behind which rises a gently undulating plateau, 500 to 800m high, partly covered with dense forests. Inland and to the north is the mountain region which includes Mount Nimba at 1,752m and Waulo Mountain at 1,400m.
Weather and Climate
Liberia has a hot equatorial climate with most rainfall coming in the summer with harsh harmattan winds in the dry season. It has a typically pronounced hot, tropical climate with little variation in temperature. The dry harmattan wind blows from December to March, making the coastal belt particularly arid. The wet season comes between May and October.
Demography
About half of Liberia’s population is of rural dwellers.
People and Culture
The official language is English. Other major local languages are Bassa, Lorma, Dan (Gio), Kpelleh, Mano and Kru. There are 29 African languages belonging to the Mande, Kwa or Mel linguistic groups. Liberia is also a Christian-dominated nation with over 30 denominations across the country. Islam is more extensive in the north and traditional animist beliefs exist throughout the country.
Travel Advice
It is recommended that adequate security arrangements for accommodation and travel are made with a reliable organization in advance of arrival. The country’s main security risks are violent crime and public order incidents. Travellers should also not walk in Monrovia at night alone, overnight and also move to secluded places. Visitors should avoid large crowds.
Passports are valid for a minimum of six months from date of entry required by all nationals referred to in the chart above. Visas are required by all foreign travellers except transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 48 hours, provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
