Liberia is the oldest
independent republic in Africa founded by liberated Afro-American slaves. The country
marked its 150th anniversary on 26 July 1997. However, the country had been devastated by
civil war since 1990 resulting in the loss of life of over 150,000 Liberians and the
displacement of half of the population inside the country and to neighboring countries.
The economy was ruined and the government services collapsed.
For many years, the
country depended on exports of iron ore, rubber and timber for its foreign exchanges
earnings. Production of all commodities was disrupted by the war. Among the few
functioning facilities is the country's large flag-of-convenient merchant fleet. Ship
owners from all over the world are attracted to the facility by the competitive registry
fees and minimum interference in their operations. The country's politics was dominated
from 1820 to 1980 by Americo-Liberians who account for less than 3% of the population. The
rest of the country is inhabited by various indigenous ethnic groups. The democratically
elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and
currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign
exchange earnings.
There were 6,600 lines
connected in 1999, resulting in a telephone density of 0.23 per hundred people.
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