SUMMARY

The conflict between INPFL (Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia) and NPFL (National Patriotic Front of Liberia) originated from internal disagreements within NPFL prompting a split, thereby creating two groups that, albeit struggling towards a common foe, Samuel Doe, were at odds as to how this goal was to be achieved. During 1990 the goal of NPFL was to topple President Doe and install its leader, Charles Taylor, as president. In January 1990 a leadership dispute between Charles Taylor and Prince Yormie Johnson, a former AFL (Armed Forces of Liberia) man, and in charge of training at NPFL erupted. The outcome of the dispute was that Johnson left NPFL, followed by roughly 500 men, setting up INPFL. In connection to the split Johnson’s forces clashed with their former brothers in arms, leaving 37 of Taylor’s men dead.

The de facto situation in Liberia at the time was that of a divided country ravaged by armed conflict. NPFL, not being able to breach the ECOWAS hold of the capital Monrovia, instead set up a parallel government in the northern city of Gbarnga, Bong County led by Charles Taylor.

Following the initial clash the groups were geographically separated for some time, INPFL in Monrovia and NPFL in Gbargna. There was however a number of small clashes as Taylor’s forces tried to capture the capital. Given the overall level of violence in the country at the time, the conflict between the two groups was not particularly intense. This is perhaps not an indicator that these groups were not violent, on the contrary they were indeed involved in violence, and the situation in the country at the time was one of chaos and insecurity. Given these prerequisites both the groups were, when not engaged in battles with each other, involved in battles with other actors in Liberia at the time.

The violence in this conflict was mostly concentrated on Monrovia and its adjacent suburbs. The initial clash, however, in which a majority of the fatalities were recorded, took place further north, in Nimba county.

The conflict between NPFL and INPFL was only active during 1990. The following years INPFL was hampered by infighting concerning the level of cooperation with the interim government led by President Amos Sawyer. By 1992 INPFL was formally disbanded.

The non-state conflict between INPFL and NPFL is first included in UCDP data in 1990. In January that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths.