General information
First Active Year: 2000
Current Name: LURD
Current Name full English: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Current Name full native language: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Original Name: LURD
Original Name full English: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Original Name full native language: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
UCDP has not recorded any Chronology Activities involving this group.
Conflict issues
Government of Liberia - LURD
Conflict Goal Issues: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) was a mainly Mandingo ethnic rebel group aiming to oust Liberian President Charles Taylor from power and replace his rule with a democratic political system. Whilst a majority of the group’s members were from the Mandingo tribe, other ethnic groups were present in its ranks as well, and the group was mostly characterized by a unified goal of ousting the government and establishing democracy. LURD emerged in 1999, although it became active in conflict in 2000. During 1999 the group stated one conflict goal issue, calling for the ousting of Charles Taylor.
In 2001, the group raised its second conflict goal issue, calling itself “an amalgamation of tribes fighting for democracy.” In 2002, LURD significantly increased its activity and communication, reemphasizing its calls for democracy and for the ousting of Charles Taylor but also calling for the overthrowing of the entire government and the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. The group also vowed to protect the basic needs of the Liberian people, provide their basic needs and access to public services, establish interim executive power-sharing to enable electoral reform, and promoting foreign policy reform through “putting an end to the use of Liberia as a safe haven for international criminals”. In 2003, LURD reemphasized electoral reform and the ousting of Charles Taylor, but also stated its intentions to restructure the Liberian military forces and establishing permanent executive power-sharing as the group intended on dividing government posts between its own members, members of MODEL, and supporters of Charles Taylor.
The main conflict goal issues of LURD were the ousting of Charles Taylor and his immediate cabinet, the establishment of democracy in Liberia, and the implementation of some sort of power-sharing which would have granted them executive power. These issues were continuously stated throughout the conflict and were heavily emphasized relative to other goal issues.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: LURD stated two conflict dynamics issues throughout its existence, both in 2002, when the group called upon the international community to initiate criminal court proceedings against Charles Taylor following his planned detention by LURD and stated its intentions to repatriate and resettle Liberian refugees. As no issues were stated with continuity, no main conflict dynamics issue was interpreted for LURD.
Conflict Resolution Issues: The only interpreted conflict resolution issue stated by LURD was stated in 2002, when the group called for accountability for President Charles Taylor.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Basic needs, Blasphemy, Constitutional issues, CPS: Democracy, CPS: Islamic state, Electoral reform, Executive power-sharing, Executive power-sharing: interim, Foreign policy reform, Human rights, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Public services, Reform judicial system, Restructure military forces
Conflict Dynamics Issues: IFI: International court/tribunal/investigation, Return of refugees/IDPs
Conflict Resolution Issues: Accountability/prosecution/investigation
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2000
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Liberia - LURD
2001
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Liberia - LURD
2002
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
LURD - Civilians
Government of Liberia - LURD
2003
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
LURD - Civilians
Government of Liberia - LURD
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2000 Group Archive
Government of Liberia - LURD
Comment on Name: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development
The LURD was formed in 2000 as a union between the organisations; the Justice Coalition of Liberia, the Organisation of Displaced Liberians and the Union of Democratic Forces of Liberia.
Troop Size: Missing
Secondary Support: Liberia accused Guinea of supporting the rebels on several occasions. UN intelligence sources confirmed the Guinean support.
2001 Group Archive
Government of Liberia - LURD
Comment on Name: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development
Troop Size: Missing
Secondary Support: The LURD was based in Guinea where it received logistical support. In 2001, Guinea began supplying arms and ammunition in exchange for coffee, cocoa and diamonds.
2002 Group Archive
LURD - Civilians
Comment on Name: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development
Government of Liberia - LURD
Comment on Name: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development
Troop Size: 2000 - 15 000
Comment on Troop Size: (1) The LURD consisted of several thousand fighters divided into three units. The LURD claim there are 14 000-15 000 combatants but the real figure is probably significantly lower.(2) Several thousands reported.
Secondary Support: In the beginning of 2002, Guinea armed and supported the LURD much more robustly than it had done previously. Many different sources tell of Guinea supporting LURD, especially with weapons. While this is most often denied by Guinea an official has stated that Guinea did not support LURD to seize power in Liberia, but said its action could contribute to toppling President Charles Taylor and restore peace in the region. He also said that LURD meet from time to time with officials but he denied the presence of LURD officials in Guinea such as Konneh. HRW has condemned Guinea for violating the arms embargo on Liberia, and has directly implicated Guineas Ministry of Defence in illicit arms supplies to Liberia. One report speaks of soldiers from Guinea aiding LURD. According to ICG, LURD has had a connection to the Kamajors which is a militia that has been operating in Sierra Leone. They mention a history of cross-border collaboration but it is not clear whether this information also applies for this year.
2003 Group Archive
LURD - Civilians
Comment on Name: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development
Government of Liberia - LURD
Comment on Name: Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development
Troop Size: 3000 - 10 000
Comment on Troop Size: (1) 3000 but an unknown number has been recruited along the way down to Monrovia in the early months of 2003 (2) 5000 in Monrivia in the beginning of August acc. to Conneh. (3) (2) The UN estimates that LURD has 7000-10 000 combatants. (4) Strength not known, several thousand reported.
Secondary Support: Guinea has supplied LURD with weapons and LURD officials live on its territory. Liberia has accused Sierra Leone of sending supplies to LURD, the type and size of the support was not reported.
