Liberia

Downtown Monrovia

Downtown Monrovia, Liberia’s capital city.

 

The settlement of freed slaves (from the US) in what is today Liberia began in 1822. By 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William Tubman, president from 1944 to 1971, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, Samuel Doe led a military coup, and ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles Taylor launched a rebellion against Doe’s regime that led to a prolonged civil war, during which Doe was killed. A period of relative peace, beginning in 1997, allowed for elections that brought Taylor to power; however serious fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war, and prompted the resignation of former president Charles Taylor, who faced war crimes charges related to his involvement in Sierra Leone’s civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to power. The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country continues.

Immunizations: Contact your physician or a travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication, and advise you on the precautions to take to avoid getting sick.

Travel Insurance: Ingle International provides comprehensive travel insurance for adventure travelers who wish to cover themselves in preparation the unexpected.

Entry/Exit Requirements: To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting.

Medical facilities

Medical facilities and emergency services in Monrovia are poor, and are non-existent outside of the capital. Medicines are scarcely available. Travelers requiring medical assistance for any serious illness or accident may require medical evacuation. Emergency Evacuation insurance is available here.

Diseases

Because of the poor level of sanitation throughout the country, water-borne, food-borne, and other infectious diseases (including cholera, hepatitis, tuberculosis, typhoid, and rabies) are prevalent, and pose a serious threat to travelers. Tourists are advised to practice good personal hygiene and take all necessary precautions, such as boiling all drinking water or drinking bottled water, and avoiding ice cubes and raw or undercooked foods.

As the level of HIV/AIDS infection in Liberia is high, travelers should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities involving the transmission of bodily fluids. Victims of rape or sexual assault are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

Avoid Non-Essential Travel

Although the security situation is improving, the country is still recovering from a civil war which ended in 2003. Following the presidential elections in November 2005, a large United Nations Mission (UNMIL) was deployed in Liberia to facilitate the transition from war to peace, operate the disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants, and contribute to the development of the state. Resettlement of displaced persons is close to completion; however the return of Liberian refugees from neighboring countries is progressing slowly. The state faces enormous capacity challenges in many aspects, most notably in implementing the rule of law.

Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world; and the potential for unrest and violence is high. Mass movement aggravates the already poor economic conditions, especially in Monrovia and other cities, where many chose to relocate during the war. Recent mass movement continues to occur for economic reasons.

Large demonstrations, often politically motivated, have occurred in the past, and could occur at any time. Potential for such unrest may increase as the 2011 election approaches. Fighting (mostly over land ownership) between ethnic groups also occurs sporadically.

Travelers should avoid unnecessary travel outside of the capital, especially to the areas bordering Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Cote d'Ivoire. These border areas have been highly unstable in the past, and the presence of armed militias, refugees, and the lack of proper security patrols increases the risk to travelers
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Local Authorities

The UNMIL force provides national authorities with support; they also guarantee limited security on major roads, around Monrovia, as well as within the main city centers. However, security problems persist throughout the country, including in Monrovia, and in many outlying regions. Local authorities are going through a restructuring process, and thus have limited presence on the ground. The national police can be overextended, particularly when demonstrations and other crowd movements occur. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings at all times and avoid all demonstrations where violence may erupt.

Crime

A high degree of poverty increases the likeliness of criminality; crime levels in Liberia are high, including within the capital city. Muggings, armed assaults, and theft are prevalent. As visitors have been targeted in the past, travelers should avoid walking alone and should refrain from displaying any signs of affluence in public. Valuables and bags should not be left unattended. Residential armed break-ins are also common. Crime significantly increases at night due to a lack of electricity in some parts of the capital.

Violent crime, including aggravated sexual assault and murder, routinely occurs and has involved foreigners. Police forces can rarely offer protection and do not have the capacity to investigate and prosecute.

Fraud

Cases of attempted fraud are frequently reported in this country.

General Safety Information

Secure tourist facilities and accommodations are very limited in Monrovia, and there is little to no infrastructure outside of the capital. Travel outside of Monrovia and in rural areas is generally inadvisable. For more information on local travel, please see Section 9 below.

There is no landline telephone system in the country. Mobile telecommunications exist in Monrovia and other major towns; however many remote areas and stretches of road between major towns have no coverage. North American cell phones do not always work.

Water is not commercially available in Monrovia, and there is no functioning sewage system.

Fuel shortages are common, and transportation services are severely limited or inadequate in rural areas.


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