General information
Type of Incompatibility: Government
Comment on Type of Incompatibility: The conflict parties involved in all phases of intrastate conflict over government in Liberia have shared a wide-reaching aim: the removal of a regime they considered corrupt, inept or unjust, and to gain total control over the state and all government functions.
At the conflict’s inception in 1980, for example, coup-maker Samuel Doe described a shift of government as the only alternative due to the administration’s prolonged mismanagement of the country and rampant corruption.
Conflict parties may also have been motivated by the prospect of controlling Liberia’s vast natural resources. Having historically enriched Liberia’s elite at the expense of the broader majority, natural resources such as rubber, iron ore, timber and diamonds served to finance warfare, thus contributing to prolonging the armed conflict.
Date of first stated goal of incompatibility: 1980-04-12
Comment on date of first stated goals of incompatibility: The dyad became active on the morning of 12 April 1980, when a previously unknown group of deserting soldiers staged an attack against the executive mansion, killing President Tolbert and several others. In doing so they revealed their willingness to use violence in order to overturn the sitting government. Due to the nature of coups – requiring secrecy and the element of surprise to be effective – a statement of incompatibility preceding the ensuing violence could not be found. Following the coup’s successful completion, the leader and incumbent president Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe announced that the intention of the coup was to overturn the inept and corrupt sitting government, providing the conflict with a retroactive statement of incompatibility.
One month prior to the coup led by Doe, Maccus Mathews of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) called for a comprehensive strike to bring the government down, and a march on the executive mansion was scheduled. Members of the government, including President Tolbert himself, accused the opposition of planning to overthrow the government. Mathews, along with 79 other PPP members were arrested, and allegedly beaten. While there is no clear link between the PPP and the Doe’s military faction, Mathews later received a ministerial post in Doe’s new government.
Date of first use of armed force: 1980-04-12
Comment on first use of armed force: This phase of the armed conflict covers the violence that took place in connection with the 1980 coup. On the early morning of 12 April 1980, 17 non-commissioned officers of the Liberian army under the leadership of Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe attacked the executive mansion and killed President Tolbert. Fighting ensued, marking the onset of the conflict.
At the time of the coup, discontentment with the regime had been building up for some time. Frustration with the slow progress of democracy was exacerbated by economic hardship. Demonstrations in April 1979 over a political proposal to significantly raise the price of rice, Liberia’s staple food, caused rioting and violent confrontation with army and police forces. Revealing the high levels of public frustration with the government, the demonstrations led to between 41 and 100 deaths. President Tolbert blamed the leaders of the demonstration, claiming their objective was to overthrow the government.
Date of first battle related death: 1980-04-12
Comment on first battle related death: In the early morning of 12 April 1980, the sitting President Tolbert, along with several members of his staff, were killed in an attack on the executive mansion
Date of conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1980-04-12
Comment on conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: Following the killing of President Tolbert in the early morning attack, fighting broke out around the executive mansion. Other members of Tolbert’s government and staff are thought to have died in the fighting. There were also reported of fighting and shooting in several other parts of Monrovia. On 15 April 1980 it was reported that 28 bodies, including that of Tolbert himself, were dropped in a mass-grave and bulldozed over.
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1980
Primary Parties: Government of Liberia - Military faction (forces of Samuel Doe)
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 26 |
| Best | 26 |
| Low | 1 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1989
Primary Parties: Government of Liberia - NPFL
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 27 |
| Best | 27 |
| Low | 27 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1990
Primary Parties: Government of Liberia - INPFL, NPFL
Dimension: Internal
Comment on Dimension: No regular troops from a foreign government with the exception of ECOMOG.
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 431 |
| Best | 347 |
| Low | 347 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Banjul III Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-10-24
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
The Banjul III agreement was signed 24 October 1990, in Gambia, by the government of Liberia and the INPFL movement. It contained a ceasefire arrangement, and also regulated the incompatibility to a degree through drawing up preliminary specifications for an interim government.The ceasefire entailed a cessation of all military activity, and a confinement of troops to locations determined in consultation with the ECOMOG force. Once confined to these locations ECOMOG would commence disarmament of all combatants. Further ECOMOG was to draw up a 30 km buffer zone to separate the belligerents from one another.
The incompatibility was regulated through a preliminary agreement on the administration of the country by an interim government up until elections.
All hostages, political prisoners and prisoners of war were to be released as a consequence of the cessation of hostilities.The ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee and ECOMOG was to supervise the implementation of the agreement. See Third Parties for more details.
Signatories: The agreement was signed on behalf of:
AFL: Lieutenant-General John Hezekiah Bowen
INPFL: Dr. Peter Lorkula Naigow
Witnessed by: Chaiman, Ministerial Meeing of the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
The agreement was not signed by an NPFL representative
Third parties: Gambia, ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Good Office.
ECOMOG, the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitorin Group, would be responsible for the verification and monitoring of the encampment and demobilization of the warring parties.
Comment of Duration: In September 1991 INPFL stated they refused to lay down their arms as long as the country remained divied. INPFL complained about their exclusion from the Yamousoukro process. In April 1992 Johnson stated INPFL would remain committed to the ECOWAS peace plan for Liberia.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Bamako Ceasefire Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-11-28
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
The Bamako agreement was signed by all parties in the Liberian conflict at Bamako, in Mali.
The agreement contained a ceasefire, but the modalities for this arrangement were to be worked out later. The ceasefire was to be monitored by ECOMOG.
The parties also agreed to resolve their differences with regard to an Interim Government for Liberia as envisaged in the ECOWAS Peace Plan. This agreement is often seen as an acceptance by the NPFL of the ECOWAS Peace Plan.
Signatories: For and behalf of:
The armed forces of Liberia: Wilmot Diggs
The National Patriotic Front of Liberia: Charles Taylor
The Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia: Noah Bordolo
Witnessed by: H.E Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of Economic Community of West African States.
Witnessed by: Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and a representative of the Liberian Inter-Faith Mediation Committee (IFMC)
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
The ECOWAS members signed the ECOWAS Peace Plan on 7 August 1990. The warring parties AFL, NPFL, INPFL signed it in Bamako on 28 November.
Third parties: ECOWAS
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: The ECOWAS states brokered the Bamako Ceasefire Agreement.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1991-03-15
Comment of Duration: The agreement is considered to have ended when NPFL boycotted the National Conference of March 1991. Taylor stated that he did not agree on excluding the leaders of the warring parties from becoming interim president.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Banjul IV Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-12-21
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
The Joint Statement of the Warring Parties of Liberia was signed in Banjul, Gambia.
The agreement included a continuation of the ceasefire agreed upon in the Bamako agreement and the formation of an Interim government. The parties also agreed that all seaports and airports would be considered military free zones.
An All-Liberian National Conference was to be held within 60 days to discuss the modalities involved in the establishment of an interim regime.The Interim government was to disarm the warring parties upon its formation.
Signatories: AFL, INPFL and NPFL
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
Third parties: ECOWAS
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: The ECOWAS states brokered the agreement.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1991-03-15
Comment of Duration: The agreement is considered to have ended when NPFL boycotted the national conference of March 1991.
Full-text peace agreement
1991
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Lomé Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1991-02-13
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
Lomé included a plan for a ceasefire and a conference. The agreement specifies the modalities for ECOMOG. Disarmament is deferred until after reconstitution of IGNU. The agreement stipulated for the appointment of a new interim government and presidential and legislative elections had been called for October 1991.
Signatories: The Armed Forces of Liberia: Lt-General J. Hezekiah Bowen
The National Patriotic Front of Liberia: Mr. Charles Ghankay Taylor
The Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia Mr. Prince Yeduo Johnson
Witnessed by: H.E. Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, President of the Republic of Gambia and Chairman of the Standing Mediation Committe.
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
Third parties: ECOWAS; ECOMOG
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: The Standing Mediation Committee (SMC) was established by ECOWAS in May 1990. The Togolese leader Gnassingbe Eyadema called for the Lomé meeting. The meeting was formally a meeting of the SMC but Guinea, Sierra Leone, Burkina, Ivory Coast, IGNU, AFL, INPFL and NPFL also attended the meetings.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1991-03-15
Comment of Duration: Taylor distanced himself from the Lomé agreement by stating that he did not agree with all aspects of the final communiqué - especially the decision to exclude the leaders of the warring groups from becoming interim president, despite the fact that this provision had been part of the November Bamako agreement.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: The Final Communique of the Fourth Meeting of the Committee of Five of the Economic Community of West African States of the Liberian Crisis, held in Yamoussoukro IV on the 29 and 30 October 1991 (Yamoussoukro IV Peace Agreement)
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1991-10-30
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
The Yamoussoukro IV agreement included a ceasefire, the creation of a buffer zone on the Liberian-Sierra Leonean border, disarmament by ECOMOG and national elections within 6 months.In short the agreement reaffirms the provisions from the earlier accords in this process, establishing a ceasefire, eventual disarmament, the formation of an interim government and national elections.
Signatories: President of Burkina Faso H.E. Capt. Blaise Compaore
President of Ivory Coast H.E. Mr. Félix Houphouet-Boigny
President of the Council od State of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau H.E. Gen. Joao Bernardo Vieira
Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Transitional Committee, Head of State of the Republic of Mali H.E Lieutenant-Colonel Amadou Toumani Toure
President of the Republic of Senegal H.E. Abdou Diouf
Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic Honourable Kokou Joseph Koffigoh
Vice President, representing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Honourable Augustus Aikhomu
Second Vice President representing the President of Sierra Leone Honourable J.B.Dauda
Minister of External Affairs representing the President of the Republic of Gambia Honourable Alhaji Omar SeyPNDC Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Representing the Head of State of the Republic of Ghana Honourable Obed Asamoah
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, representing the Head of State of the Republic of Guinea Honourable Faciné Toure
President of the Interim Government of Liberia H.E. Dr. Amos Sawyer
Head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia H.E. Mr. Charles Taylor
Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim
The Representative of International Negotiations Network (INN) Mrs. Dayle E. Spencer
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
Third parties: ECOWAS; President Houphouet Boigny of Cote dIvoire; the Atlanta-based International Negotiations Network (INN) led by former US President Jimmy Carter.
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: facilitators of the agreement
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1992-10-01
Comment of Duration: NPFL refused to disarm to ECOMOG. In October 1992 NPFL launched Operation Octopus and attempted to capture Monrovia.
Full-text peace agreement
1992
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Final Communiqué of the ECOWAS Committee of Five on Liberia ("Geneva Agreement")
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1992-04-07
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
The agreement signed in Geneva reaffirms the Yamoussokro Agreement of 30 October 1991, and was aimed at speeding up the process of encampment and demobilization of the belligerents troops.
Signatories: President of Faso, Head of Government , Burkina Faso: H.E Blaise Compaore
President of Ivory Coast: H.E. Mr. Félix Houphouet-Boigny
President of the Republic of Senegal: H.E. Abdou Diouf
Vice President, Representing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Honourable Admiral Augustus Aikhomu
President of the Interim Government of Liberia H.E. Dr. Amos Sawyer
Head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia Mr. Charles Taylor
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Cairo, Egypt on 7 April 1992.
Third parties: Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria, ECOWAS
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: ECOWAS convened a Committee of Five on Liberia
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1992-08-16
Comment of Duration: In mid August 1992 NPFL said they would not disarm since they were at war with ULIMO.
Full-text peace agreement
1993
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Cotonou Peace Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1993-07-25
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
The signing of the Cotonou agreement should be seen as a considerable move forward in the Liberian peace process. The parties agreed on a number of issues, most importantly on the modalities and specifications for the transitional government that had been set forth early on in the process.
The first point was the establishment of a ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities to be monitored by ECOMOG. The troops involved in the fighting were to remain in their locations until the commencement of encampment and subsequent demobilization. The parties expressed their willingness to disarm, and called upon the international community for financial aid for such a process.
The most important deal however was struck when the parties agreed to the composition and mandate of the Transitional Government. This transitional regime would enjoy full authority over the Liberian territory and contained a number of power-sharing arrangements in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The executive would be composed of a five member Council of State, the delegates chosen by ‘prominent Liberians’. The Transitional Assembly would be comprised of delegates from the government (13 members), the NPFL (13 members) and ULIMO (9 members). ULIMO were also granted the right to nominate one delegate to the Supreme Court. Power-sharing was also present in the formation of en Elections Commission, charged with working towards the holding of general elections.
Also, a general amnesty was declared, and a program for the repatriation of refugees and displaced persons was initiated, along with a release of all prisoners of war. Disarmament of the warring factions was impeded because of inter-factional fighting
Signatories: Amos Claudius Sawyer
President of the Interim Government of National Unity of Liberia for and on behalf of the Interim Government of National Unity of Liberia (IGNU)
Enoch Dogolea Vice-President of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia for and on behalf of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL/NPRAG)
Major-General Alhaji G. V. Kromah
Leader of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy for and on behalf of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO)
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
UN, ECOWAS, Signatorie: IGNU, NPFL, Ulimo, LNTG (govt).
Witnessed By:
His Excellency Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo President of the Republic of Benin and Current Chairman of ECOWAS
Dr. James O. C. Jonah Under-Secretary-General, Department of Political Affairs, United Nations for and on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Rev. Professor Canaan Banana Eminent Person for Liberia for and on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity
Third parties: UN, ECOWAS and OAU
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Facilitators of the agreement.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1994-12-31
Comment of Duration: The Cotonou Peace Agreement started to be implemented in 1993 and early 1994, then the order of implementation was disputed as NPFL argued that the government had to be seated before disarmament would occur while the IGNU argued the opposite. The transitional government was installed on 7 March 1994 and on the same date the commencement of the demobilization started. By late 1994 the disarmament and political process of the Cotonou Peace Agreement had come to a standstill.
Full-text peace agreement
1994
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Akosombo Peace Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1994-09-12
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
The Akosombo Peace Agreement was signed in Ghana and supplemented and amended the Cotonou agreement.
The ceasefire was reaffirmed, and the agreement contained some amendments to the agreements reached on the armed forces of Liberia. Total demobilization remained as the main regulation of conflict behaviour, but new specifications for the establishment of a new military force were made. The demobilization of the troops and the subsequent formation of a new national army was to be the responsibility of the Transitional Government.
Some provisions for the structure of the government and the reaffirmation of the Yamoussokro accords were removed.
It was further stipulated that the Transitional Government was to have a life-span of approximately 16 months, and that elections were to be held on 10 October 1995.
Signatories: Charles G. Taylor
Leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
Lt. Gen. Alhaji G. Kromah National Chairman of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO)
Lt. Gen. J. Hezekiah Bowen
Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL)
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
Witnessed By
His Excellency Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings
President of the Republic of Ghana and current Chairman of ECOWAS
Ambassador Trevor Gordon-Somers
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Liberia
Third parties: Ghana
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1994-12-31
Comment of Duration: The Akosombo agreement was never implemented.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Agreement on the clarification of the Akosombo Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1994-12-21
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
This agreement clarifies and expands provisions of the Akosombo agreement. It reinforces said agreement, as well as the Cotonou agreement. It provides clarity on the ceasefire, security sector reforms, and appointments of government officials.
With regard to the incompatibility, it establishes peaceful relations between the parties and provides for political integration of the opposition groups. The parties agreed that a five member Council of State was to be established consisting of one member from NPFL, ULIMO, AFL, LNC and a traditional chief.
The agreement also includes clarification on safe havens and a buffer zone.
Signatories: NPFL: Charles Taylor; ULIMO: Lt. Gen. Alhaji G. V. Kromah; Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Lt. Gen. J. Hezekiah Bowen; attested to by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana and Current Chairman of ECOWAS
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement signed in Accra, Ghana on 21 December 1994.
This agreement did not include LDF, LPC, CRC-NPFL, LNC. These parties agreed in the signing of a later document, the Acceptance and Accession Agreement, also signed 21 December 1994.
Third parties: ECOWAS, Ghana
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: ECOWAS supported the peace process from the outset of the conflict through various initiatives, including mediation efforts to reach a peaceful settlement. Ghana convened and hosted dialogues between the parties. President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana was also the Chairman of ECOWAS.
Full-text peace agreement
1995
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Abuja Agreement to Supplement the Cotonou and Akosombo, Agreements as subsequently clarified by the Accra Agreement ("Abuja Peace Agreement")
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1995-08-19
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
The Abuja Accord managed to bring the leaders of all warring factions into the transitional government, which was installed with due ceremony in September 1995.
The agreement amends and supplements the Cotonou Accord, the Akosombo Agreement and its Accra Clarification Agreement.A new ceasefire was declared and took effect on 26 August 1995.
The most important amendments to the above stated agreements were minor shifts in he power-sharing arrangements between the parties. The five-member Council of State was replaced by a six-member council, and the ULIMO-J movement were granted a number of ministerial portfolios. Other minor reallocations of ministerial portfolios were also agreed upon.
Apart from these amendments the previous agreements mentioned above were reaffirmed.
Signatories: Charles Ghankay Taylor
Leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
Ltg. Alhaji G. V. Kromah National Chairman of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO)
Dr. G. E. Saigbe Boley Sr. Leader of the Liberia Council (LPC)
Ltg. J. Hezekiah Bowen Armed Forces of Liberia
Major-General Roosevelt Johnson United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO-J)
Francois Massaquoi Lofa Defence Force (LDF)
Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu National Patriotic Front of Liberia Central Revolutionary Council (NPFL-CRC)
Chea Cheapoo Liberia National Conference (LNC)
Witnessed By: Dr. Obed Asamoah For and on behalf of His Excellency Flt-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairman of ECOWAS
Chief Tom Ikimi For and on behalf of His Excellency General Sani Abacha, Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces His Excellency President Canaan Banana
OAU Eminent Person in Liberia His Excellency Anthony B. Nyakyi
UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative to Liberia
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
Third parties: ECOWAS, Nigeria, OAU, UN
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 1996-04-01
Comment of Duration: 8 months. The ceasefire ended in April, when fighting erupted in Monrovia following a standoff between Taylor and Johnsson.
Full-text peace agreement
1996
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Supplement to the Abuja Accord ("Abuja II Peace Agreement")
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1996-08-17
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement, supplement to Abuja Agreement.
The plan is an amended version of the former Abuja accord with minor amendments to the Transitional Government and an extesion of its life-span.
Signatories: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR
Leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
Ltg. Alhaji G. V. KROMAH National Chairman of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO)
Dr. G. E. SAIGBE BOLEY Sr. Leader of the Liberia Council (LPC)
Ltg. J. Hezekiah BOWEN Armed Forces of Liberia
Major-General Roosevelt JOHNSON United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO-J)
Francois MASSAQUOI Lofa Defence Force (LDF)
Jucontee Thomas WOEWIYU National Patriotic Front of Liberia Central Revolutionary Council (NPFL-CRC)
Chea CHEAPOO Liberia National Conference (LNC)
Witnessed By:
Chief Tom Ikimi for and on behalf of General Sani Abacha, Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces
Capt (Rtd) Kojo Tsikata Member of the Council of State, for and on behalf of Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana
President Canaan Banana OAU Eminent Person in Liberia
Anthony B Nyakyi
UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative to Liberia
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
Third parties: ECOWAS
Full-text peace agreement
2000
Primary Parties: Government of Liberia - LURD
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 57 |
| Best | 57 |
| Low | 57 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2001
Primary Parties: Government of Liberia - LURD
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 341 |
| Best | 341 |
| Low | 341 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2002
Primary Parties: Government of Liberia - LURD
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 517 |
| Best | 492 |
| Low | 391 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2003
Primary Parties: Government of Liberia - LURD, MODEL
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1887 |
| Best | 1787 |
| Low | 1787 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Agreement on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities Between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia ("Accra Ceasefire Agreement")
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2003-06-17
Comment of peace agreement: Peace process agreement
Ghana agreed to host talks in Accra which resulted in a ceasefire agreement signed on 17 June 2003 called “Agreement on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities Between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia”. This was primarily a ceasefire agreement, but it can neverthless be seen as a peace process agreement since it outlined a process for how to regulate a number of issues related to the incompatibility. The warring parties committed themselves to refrain from any act that might constitute a violation of the agreement, and an ECOWAS joint verification team was to be set up. In addition, a joint monitoring committee (ECOWAS, UN, African Union and the ICGL) would monitor the ceasefire. The parties agreed on the need for the deployment of an international stabilization force in Liberia. The warring parties, political parties and stakeholders would engage in dialogue to seek within 30 days a lasting peace agreement. The agreement would cover disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, restructuring of the Liberian security forces, human rights and reconciliation and the formation of a transitional government, not to include President Charles Taylor. The transitional government should prepare the ground for general elections.
Signatories: The Ceasefire Agreement in Accra, Ghana was signed by Hon. Daniel L. Chea Snr. Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Liberia (GOL), Mr. Kabineh Janneh (LURD) and Mr. Tiah J.D. Slanger (MODEL). In addition, a number of witnesses signed the agreement, for example the Mediator General Abdulsalami Abubakar and representatives from ECOWAS, United Nations and the African Union and International Contact Group of Liberia (ICGL).
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
Third parties: ECOWAS/ The International Crisis Group on Liberia (ICGL); The Inter-Religious Council (IRC); Mediatior General Abdulsalami Abubakar (former Head of State of Nigeria); ECOMIL.
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: ECOWAS and the Inter-Religious Council (IRC) of Liberia facilitated the talks in Freetown, 7-8 February with Sierra Leone as host. The negotiations in Akosombo and Accra, between the 4 June and 18 August, took place within the framework of the ECOWAS Peace Process for Liberia, under the auspices of the current Chairman of ECOWAS, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana, and the mediation of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria. The International Crisis Group on Liberia (ICGL) has urged the parties to participate in talks. The group comprises Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Britain, France, the USA, African union, ECOWAS and the UN.
Full-text peace agreement
Name of peace agreement: Comprehensive Peace Agreement Between the Government of Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) and Political Parties ("Accra Peace Agreement")
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2003-08-18
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
The peace agreement, signed at Accra in Ghana, provides for a transitional power-sharing government called the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) to be installed on 14 October 2003, and its mandate would run until January 2006.
The parties reaffirmed the earlier ceasefire and agreed to a national process of cantonment, disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration of the armed forces. It was stipulated that a new national army would be created, comprised of combatants from all of the parties and any civilians with the appropriate background and experience. A restructuring of the security forces would also commence once the cantonment process had ended, creating a National Police Force, an Immigration Force, a Special Security Service, custom security guards and other statutory security units. ECOMOG was to establish a multinational peacekeeping force to preserve the peace.
A Transitional Government was established under the agreement, and will enjoy full authority over the unified country. The Transitional Government was one of power-sharing, assuring the warring factions, the political parties and civil society a specific number of seats in the unicameral assembly. The new government would consist of 76 members: 12 each from the three warring parties; 18 from political parties; seven from civil society and special interest groups; and one from each of Liberia’s 15 counties. The warring parties, the opposition parties and civil society groups will share ministerial portfolios and employment opportunities in the cabinet and parliament. Elections were to be held no later than 2005.
Agreements were also reached on the repatriation of refugees and IDP’s, on a recommendation for a general amnesty and the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission.
Signatories: The Accra Peace Agreement was signed on 18 August 2003, by all three warring parties, the Government of the Republic of Liberia (GOL), the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Reconciliation and Democracy (MODEL). In addition, a number of political parties signed, National Patriotic Party, Unity Party, Liberian People’s Party, National Reformation Party, Labor Party, Liberia Unification Party, Liberian Action Party, People’s Democratic Party, National democratic Party, Free Democratic Party, Reformation Alliance Party, All-Liberian Coalition Party, True Whig Party, United People’s Party, Liberia National Union, Equal Rights Party, Progressives People’s Party, New Deal Movement. The witnesses that signed the agreement include for instance, the mediator, ECOWAS, United Nations, and the African Union. See peace agreement for further information.
Comment of signatories: Comprehensive peace agreement
Third parties: ECOWAS/ The International Crisis Group on Liberia (ICGL); The Inter-Religious Council (IRC); Mediator General Abdulsalami Abubakar (former Head of State of Nigeria); ECOMIL; and UNMIL.
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: ECOWAS and the Inter-Religious Council (IRC) of Liberia facilitated the talks in Freetown, 7-8 February with Sierra Leone as host. The negotiations in Akosombo and Accra, between the 4 June and 18 August, took place within the framework of the ECOWAS Peace Process for Liberia, under the auspices of the current Chairman of ECOWAS, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana, and the mediation of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria. The International Crisis Group on Liberia (ICGL) has urged the parties to participate in talks. The group comprises Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Britain, France, the USA, African union, ECOWAS and the UN.
In the beginning of August the first soldiers arrived from the ECOMIL force (ECOWAS military mission), which is to consist of 3250 troops. On 1 October this force handed over power to UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) which is planned to consist of 15 000 peacekeepers and 1115 international civilian police when it is fully deployed. In November 4300 of the peacekeepers had been deployed.
Full-text peace agreement
2004
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Conflict Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1980 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The deaths coded for the conflict year resulted from the 12 April 1980 coup that toppled the Tolbert government.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "On 15 April 1980, witnesses reported seeing 28 bodies – including that of toppled President Tolbert – being dumped into a mass-grave and bulldozed over. The other 27 are thought to have been members of Tolbert’s staff, casualties of the fighting that broke out at the executive mansion in connection with the coup. Until then, there had been no indication that as many as 28 people had lost their lives.
A second credible source offers the total toll of 26 deaths in the coup, included here as the low estimate. Due to the fact that the coup is said to have triggered sporadic shooting in several parts of Monrovia, it is possible that the total toll was higher than the estimate given."
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Comment on Third Party Involvement: The coup and subsequent treatment of former government ministers caused outrage in the region. While there were no third party efforts to reconcile the conflict parties, neighbouring states and regional bodies used diplomatic means to put pressure on Samuel Doe and express their dissatisfaction with his tactics. Shortly after the coup, 13 ministers and other top-officials in the former government were publicly executed on a Monrovia beach following questionable sentencing by a military tribunal. When the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) convened in early May the Liberian delegation, led by Samuel Doe himself, were denied admission to the proceedings.
Victory: YES
Victory side: b
Comment on Victory: The coup-makers under the leadership of Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe killed President Tolbert and succeeded in overturning the sitting government. Sporadic shooting followed in several parts of Monrovia, indicating that the coup was resisted by elements of the military and police. In a first radio announcement, the victors declared that the army would be in charge until a decision could be made on a new government. Immediately following the coup, witnesses reported Doe giving orders and being referred to as “Mr. President”. On 14 April, Doe named his military-civilian cabinet of 15, and announced that officials of the toppled government were to be tried for treason.
Comment on Victorious Side: A new government, the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), was established by the victorious coup-makers, with coup-leader Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe assuming the presidency.
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Victory
Date of termination: 1980-04-14
Comment on Termination: The coup d’état orchestrated by Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe succeeded in toppling the sitting government
Comment on Termination Date: On 14 April 1980 Liberia’s new military leader Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe named his new 15-member military-civilian cabinet, as well as announcing that members of the toppled Tolbert government would be tried for treason, thus marking the end of this dyad through victory for Doe’s military faction.
1989 Conflict Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "Estimates by western diplomats were reported in mid-January 90. The sources estimated that about 50 government troops and 50 rebels had been killed ""so far""."
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1990 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: In June, the Liberian Inter-Faith Mediation Committee (IFMC) organized week-long talks between Does government and the NPFL at the US embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone. When Doe refused to step down NPFL left the talks. In May ECOWAS decided to establish a Standing Mediating Committee on 7 August they held their first session ever, presenting a peace plan for the Liberian conflict. The ECOWAS peace plan called for a ceasefire, the establishment of ECOMOG, for the holding of a national conference to establish a broad based interim government in Liberia, and for holding elections within 12 months. NPFL who attended the meeting rejected the decisions. On 21 August talks were held between and NPFL delegation and ECOWAS the parties failed to reach a ceasefire.
ECOWAS convened a national conference on 30 August to set up an Interim Government. The government party (NDPL) and INPFL who had broke with the NPFL in February 1990 attended the conference but NPFL refused to attend since they “was technically at war with the ECOWAS-peace-keeping force”. The conference elected Dr. Amos Sawyer as President of the Interim government and Rt. Rev. Ronald J. Diggs as Vice President (Banjul II agreement). In early September both President Doe and NPFL said they would not recognise the Interim Government. President Doe was killed by INPFL on 9 September.
In October 1990 the government of Liberia and the INPFL agreed on the secession of all hostilities on a meeting in Banjul that the NPFL refused to attend (Banjul III agreement). In November the ECOWAS member states held talks about the ECOMOG and the Interim government. On 28 November 1990 the discussions led to the signing of the Bamako Ceasefire Agreement between the Armed Forces of Liberia, NPFL and INPFL. The parties agreed to a ceasefire to be monitored by ECOMOG. The parties also agreed to resolve their differences with regard to an Interim Government for Liberia as envisaged in the ECOWAS Peace Plan. This agreement is often seen as an acceptance by the NPFL of the ECOWAS Peace Plan (Banjul I agreement). Although Sawyer had been sworn in a s President of the Interim Government on 22 November, Taylor did not see the endorsement of the Bamako agreement as an acceptance of President Sawyer.
On 21 December the parties agreed on a joint statement called the Banjul IV agreement, in which the parties agreed to convene a National Conference to reconstitute and consolidate the Interim government within 60 days. The parties also agreed that all seaports and airports would be considered military free zones.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: ECOWAS, ECOMOG (led by Ghanaian general, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone) , IFMC
Comment on Third Party Involvement: In May 1990, before fighting had reached Monrovia, peace efforts were being co-ordinated by the Liberian Inter-Faith Mediation Committee (IFMC). The ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) that consists of 4000 troops arrived on 24 August 1990. In October 1990 they launched an armed offensive to secure Monrovia.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Other
Date of termination: 1990-12-31
Comment on Termination: While Liberia continued to experience violence also after 1990, none of the forces involved were clearly attached to the sitting Liberian government. The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) were not under government control and are understood as a militia or rebel group. For that reason, the events that took place between 1991 and 1995 cannot be coded as state-based violence.
Fighting involving ECOMOG forces deployed to Liberia cannot, either, be attached to the state-based dyad. While ECOMOG forces de facto fought for the government - and could be considered a governmental army - its mandate clearly identifies it as a peacekeeping mission.
1991 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1992 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1993 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1994 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1995 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1996 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2000 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: Nigeria, ECOWAS
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Nigeria provided good office for ECOWAS meetings in Abuja in October and December.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2001 Conflict Archive
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: ECOWAS, Nigeria
Comment on Third Party Involvement: ECOWAS held talks with Liberian president Charles Taylor in Abuja on 11 April.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2002 Conflict Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: Information is lacking on precise figures and numbers. Indications of heavy fighting through out the year. As sources could not be independently verified and as actual casualty figures were not reported, the total battle related deaths is probably much higher than the figure summarised here."
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: ECOWAS, Nigeria
Comment on Third Party Involvement: Talks between ECOWAS and government representatives from Liberia in Abuja were about organising a reconciliation conference for July. Furthermore, a ceasefire, the deployment of an international stabilization force, a reform of the military sector and the paramilitary forces, a possible war cries tribunal and the creation of a impartial electoral commission to organize elections in 2003.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2003 Conflict Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number is probably higher. Many reports indicate that more than 2000 died in Monrovia alone where only LURD operated. There are indications of heavy fighting elsewhere in Liberia but only in a few cases are there figures reported. Most of the reports that are citing numbers concern Monrovia.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: LURD and the government met in Freetown, 7-8 February to discuss a ceasefire, and Sierra Leone hosted the talks but no agreement was signed. The talks were facilitated by the ECOWAS parliament and the Inter-Religious Council (IRC) of Liberia. This was to be followed by an invitation by ECOWAS to hold talks on the 9-10 March in Mali, but these negotiations never took place. Instead Ghana agreed to host talks in Accra in the beginning of June. On 17 June 2003 a ceasefire agreement was signed in Accra called “Agreement on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities Between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia”. This was primarily a ceasefire agreement, but it can nevertheless be seen as a peace process agreement since it outlined a process for how to at least regulate the incompatibility. The warring parties committed themselves to refrain from any act that might constitute a violation of the agreement, and an ECOWAS joint verification team was to be set up. In addition, a joint monitoring committee (ECOWAS, UN, African Union and the ICGL) would monitor the ceasefire. The parties agreed on the need for the deployment of an international stabilization force in Liberia. The warring parties, political parties and stakeholders would engage in dialogue to seek within 30 days a lasting peace agreement. The agreement would cover disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, restructuring of the Liberian security forces, human rights and reconciliation and the formation of a transitional government, not to include President Charles Taylor. The transitional government should prepare the ground for general elections. The Ceasefire Agreement in Accra, Ghana was signed by Hon. Daniel L. Chea Snr. Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Liberia (GOL), Mr. Kabineh Janneh (LURD) and Mr. Tiah J.D. Slanger (MODEL). In addition, a number of witnesses signed the agreement, for example the Mediator General Abdulsalami Abubakar and representatives from ECOWAS, United Nations and the African Union and ICGL. On 18 August 2003 a peace agreement was signed, which was preceded by negotiations in Akosombo and Accra between the 4 June and 18 August.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: ECOWAS/ The International Crisis Group on Liberia (ICGL); The Inter-Religious Council (IRC); Mediatior General Abdulsalami Abubakar (former Head of State of Nigeria); ECOMIL; and UNMIL.
Comment on Third Party Involvement: ECOWAS and the Inter-Religious Council (IRC) of Liberia facilitated the talks in Freetown, 7-8 February with Sierra Leone as host. The negotiations in Akosombo and Accra, between the 4 June and 18 August, took place within the framework of the ECOWAS Peace Process for Liberia, under the auspices of the current Chairman of ECOWAS, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana, and the mediation of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria. The International Crisis Group on Liberia (ICGL) has urged the parties to participate in talks. The group comprises Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Britain, France, the USA, African union, ECOWAS and the UN.
In the beginning of August the first soldiers arrived from the ECOMIL force (ECOWAS military mission), which is to consist of 3250 troops. On 1 October this force handed over power to UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) which is planned to consist of 15 000 peacekeepers and 1115 international civilian police when it is fully deployed. In November 4300 of the peacekeepers had been deployed.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Peace Agreement
Date of termination: 2003-08-18
Comment on Termination: Comprehensive Peace Agreement Between the Government of Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) and Political Parties. Signed at Accra 18 August 2003.
The peace agreement provides for a transitional power-sharing government called the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) to be installed on 14 October 2003, and its mandate will run until January 2006. President Moses Blah, which took over power from Charles Taylor, will by mid-October hand over power to a chairman who does not come from any of the warring factions. Both the posts as chairman and vice-chairman in the new government are restricted to candidates from political parties and civil society groups. The new government will consist of 76 members: 12 each from the three warring parties; 18 from political parties; seven from civil society and special interest groups; and one from each of Liberia’s 15 counties. The warring parties, the opposition parties and civil society groups will share jobs in the cabinet and parliament. It was also agreed that ECOWAS will establish a multinational peacekeeping force; the warring sides will be disengaged and disarmed; the army will be restructured; and a truth and reconciliation commission is to be established. Elections should be conducted not later than 2005.
Comment on Termination Date: The Accra Peace Agreement was signed on 18 August 2003, by all three warring parties, the Government of the Republic of Liberia (GOL), the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Reconciliation and Democracy (MODEL). In addition, a number of political parties signed, National Patriotic Party, Unity Party, Liberian People’s Party, National Reformation Party, Labor Party, Liberia Unification Party, Liberian Action Party, People’s Democratic Party, National democratic Party, Free Democratic Party, Reformation Alliance Party, All-Liberian Coalition Party, True Whig Party, United People’s Party, Liberia National Union, Equal Rights Party, Progressives People’s Party, New Deal Movement. The witnesses that signed the agreement include for instance, the mediator, ECOWAS, United Nations, and the African Union.
2004 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
